Damongo District Hospital shut down following attacks on nurses
Healthcare services at the Damongo District Hospital in the West Gonja District in the Northern Region came to a halt last Monday following a decision by health workers at the facility to lay down their tools.
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The action was in protest against the attacks on some health workers by some residents of the area.
Patients who went to the facility for medical services had to go back home or elsewhere.
By the end of the day, the health workers had refused to rescind their decision despite the assurances from the police, the district assembly and the Chief of the area, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, that the issue would be solved.
Police
The Officer in charge of the Damongo Police Station, Chief Inspector Daniel Adu Gyamfi, confirmed the attack on the nurses and said the police had intensified its day and night patrols at the hospital to ensure the safety and security of the health personnel.
He said the police had also launched a manhunt for the two persons who assaulted the health workers.
Chief Inspector Adu Gyamfi explained that two persons were arrested by the police last Wednesday after a complaint that two motorbikes belonging to some nurses of the hospital had been stolen while they were at work.
He said the two persons who are now at large were arrested on suspicion that they had stolen the motorbikes but they denied knowledge of the theft and were granted bail.
When they were released, Chief Inspector Adu Gyamfi said, they went to the hospital and assaulted the nurses.
Chief Inspector Adu Gyamfi said one of the motorbikes that was stolen had been retrieved and given back to the owner but the other was yet to be found.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Gonja, Mr Ali Kasim, also confirmed the story and said efforts were being made to resolve the matter.
Yagbonwura meeting
The Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa I, the overlord of the Gonja state, held a meeting with authorities of the hospital, the district health directorate, the district assembly and the district police command to amicably resolve the issue.
Sources at the meeting told the Daily Graphic that the Yagbonwura assured the health workers of their safety and security and urged the police to deal with anybody who would be arrested in connection with the issue.
In addition, the source said, Tuntumba Boresa I indicated that the chiefs and elders of the area would not shield anyone arrested for the attack on the health workers.
He is reported to have warned traditional leaders and politicians to desist from intervening in criminal matters in the area, as it had embolden some youth to take the law into their own hands.