COVID-19: Isolation and treatment centres have been designated for potential cases_Akufo-Addo assures Ghanaians

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians of the country’s preparedness to manage Coronavirus which is causing deaths and economic difficulties and has become a major concern to the whole world, should it break in Ghana.
According to him, in the early days of the outbreak, he constituted, on 7th February, a high-powered emergency response team to handle the crisis, which has been monitoring developments and reporting to him on a daily basis.
Speaking at the Ghana’s 63rd Independence Day celebration which was held in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, he said strict checks at our entry points are being conducted, with rigorous screening procedures.
“Isolation and treatment centres have been designated for potential cases, and a quarantine centre has been set up,” he assured Ghanaians.
President Akufo-Addo stated that five thousand (5,000) personal protective equipment for health workers have been procured and distributed to all regions and major health facilities, points of entry, teaching hospitals, treatment centres and selected health facilities.
Additionally, he said protective health equipment is being procured.
“Training of health workers in the treatment of the disease has been provided and is ongoing. In the interim, non-essential travel into Ghana is being strongly discouraged from high risk countries, namely, China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo said although the country is counting on the experts to do their part to safeguard the people, they all have a responsibility to take measures to help themselves and each other.
He cautioned Ghanaians to avoid shaking of hands and adhere to the basic recommendations by the Ministry of Health.
“The recommendations are for each one of us to practice basic, personal hygiene, and be extra careful with sanitation. For the time being, as the Ministry of Health has advised, we have to revisit our custom of shaking hands, and avoid doing so completely for now,” he added.
He called on Ghanaians to pray for God’s protection against coronavirus and as well pay attention to the health experts, and reject all fraudulent claims for cures that will only threaten public health and safety.
“We should pray, of course, that the Almighty continues to shield us, but it is also the time to pay attention to the health experts, and reject all fraudulent claims for cures that will only threaten public health and safety. Please listen to, and take seriously, the public education messages being put out by the public health authorities, and I urge the churches, mosques, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and opinion leaders all to join in helping to keep Ghana safe,: he advised.
President Akufo-Addo again stated that government is determined to do whatever is necessary, including providing the requisite resources, to ensure the safety of the population.
“We appreciate the active collaboration being offered us by the global health authority, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and by friends of Ghana, in these trying times. Government, on its part, is determined to do whatever is necessary, including providing the requisite resources, to ensure the safety of the population,” he added.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori