COVID-19: recovered frontline health workers in Upper East return to work
Twenty-three out of the 26 frontline health staff of the Ghana Health Service(GHS) in the Upper East Region who contracted the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and have recovered from the disease today [Monday, June 8, 2020] welcomed back to work.
Out of the 26, eleven of them were working in various capacities at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga. Two out of the 26 health staff unfortunately lost their lives before the test results were received by the health authorities while one of them who absconded has not been found till date.
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Stigmatisation
At a special ceremony held at the Regional Hospital at Bolgatanga to welcome them back and to reintegrate them into the Region, one of the recovered health staff and the Senior Medical Officer of the New Born Care Unit of the Hospital, Dr Gillian Bogee said it is so refreshing for her “to review a new born baby today; I was welcomed in a grand style and massively too”.
Recounting her experiences, she said “I was airlifted to the COVID-19 treatment centre at Korle-Bu in Accra and I want to use this opportunity to thank the Presidency, the Ghana Health Service, the media, other individuals and institutions who supported us."
Dr Bogee therefore pointed out the need for society to avoid stigmatising COVID-19 patients and even those who have recovered from the virus.
“We are all at risk and so stop the name calling;spread calm and not fear because COVID-19 is no respecter of persons"she advised.
Dr Gillian Bogee
On their part,the Senior Midwifery Officer at the Gynaec Theatre of the Hospital,Ms Regina Badii and Mr Eric Dakura,a Superintendent Field Technician at the Hospital and member of the COVID-19 Rapid Response Team were both highly elated for being accepted back in a special way.
They noted that such a warm reception would further boost their morale to work harder to help address the health challenges facing people in the Region particularly COVID-19.
Mr Eric Dakura
They explained that words cannot describe the feelings they had the first time they were told that they tested positive to COVID-19.
“We are however happy that after all said and done we finally tested negative three times to the virus"they happily stated.
Heroes
The Regional Director of the GHS, Dr Winfred Ofosu described the recovered COVID-19 frontline staff as heroes and heroines because apart from contracting the disease in their line of duties, they were equally at the war front to save lives.
“They are all joining us today and therefore let us show them love,appreciate them and work with them"he entreated.
He stated that “this celebration for our health staff should change the mindset of the public that you do not need to see dead bodies before believing that the virus exists".
The recovered staff
Dr Ofosu therefore called on residents of the Region to continue to strictly observe all the health protocols to curb the spread of the virus.
Don't give up
The acting Medical Director of the Regional Hospital, Dr Samuel Aborah entreated the recovered health staff not to lose hope but to continue to do their best to respond to their respective duty calls to enable the Region to overcome the pandemic.
“I want to assure all of you that there is no stigma against any of our health workers;feel free and join us to work" Dr Aborah stated.
He thanked all the health personnel in the Region, the GHS in Accra,the Ghana Medical Association and the Director General of the GHS, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare for their tremendous support to help bring back the health personnel from their COVID-19 status to be able to work once again.