President of the Environmental Health Officers Alliance-Ghana (EHOA-GH), Dr. Yaw Akwaa Lartey, has stated that their reason for embarking on strike is due to government’s failure to provide resources for working.
He averred that workers are not going to bury the COVID-19 dead bodies again till the matter is resolved by government.
“Government has failed to provide us with the needed resources for us to be able to discharge our duties. We’ve laid down our tools for now.
“Our members are contracting COVID-19, so we’re laying down our tools until the government gives us equipment. We’re not burying the bodies again, we have families.”
Dr. Yaw Lartey
This comes on the back of the Environmental Health Workers in charge of the burial of COVID-19 dead bodies, declaring an industrial strike over poor work conditions.
The directive was issued by the leadership of the EHOA-GH made up of over 7,000 health practitioners.
Dr. Lartey further indicated that for the EHOA-GH to function properly it will need disinfection materials and PPE’s. He also said the workers need a private hearse stationed at the assemblies, specifically for COVID-19 dead bodies.
“We’re forced to use the same hearse for ordinary bodies which is wrong. We’re using private hearse and unfortunately when it is not available, we’re forced to use the KIA trucks that convey foodstuff to Accra.”
Dr. Yaw Lartey
Dr. Lartey said they have written several letters to the minister of health,;minister of local government and the COVID-19 response team since May 2020 but nothing has been done.
EHOA-GH strike action
The Environmental Health Officers Alliance-Ghana (EHOA-GH) in a statement today said they have laid down their tools;on the burial of all COVID-19 Dead Bodies across Country.
According to them, over one year now,;all COVID-19 dead bodies buried in the country by the EHOA-GH health practitioners lack the needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),;Hearse and other incentives which had already been given to their counterparts in the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
It further lamented that the Environmental Health Practitioners,;who are 100% health workers working under the Local Government Service (LGS) had not been part of all trainings and workshops which were organized by the Ministry of Health (in all the Sixteen (16) Regions.
“It saddens our hearts at this critical moment on why the Government of Ghana,;specifically H. E. The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will neglect the only Public Health Law Enforcement Agents who are mandated by Section 14 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (ACT 936) with Amendment (ACT 940) and E. I. 4 of 1976 in discharge of our mandated duties or job descriptions.
“We have withdrawn our Services as enshrined in the; Section 50 clause (c) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (ACT 851) with immediate effect.”
EHOA-GH
Don’t victimize our members
EHOA-GH further cautioned persons in the MMDAs who will try to victimize any of its members to deter from such acts. Also
EHOA-GH Executives therefore entreated all Environmental Health Practitioners;in all the 260 MMDAs to stay calm as Executives engage Government on the way forward in the discharge of their duties. Also
