Rev. Dr Enoch Aryee-Atta (3rd left) presenting the items to Dr Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah (4th left). Looking on are Mr Kofi Agamah (left), CEO of Challenge Bookshops; Mr Kwame Adu, General Director/CEO of the Scripture Union Ghana, and Rev Samuel Obeng-Mensah (right), Head of Administration, Ga East Municipal Hospital. Picture: Maxwell Ocloo

Increasing symptomatic cases of COVID-19 disturbing

Desmond Kofi Tawiah Jun - 11 - 2020 , 12:06

The management of the Ga East Municipal Hospital has expressed concern over the increasing number of symptomatic cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the facility.

It attributed the situation to people refusing to seek help early but rather stay at home to self medicate, even when they showed symptoms of COVID-19, only to visit the hospital for diagnosis when their conditions deteriorated.

According to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah, "we used to see a lot more asymptomatic persons in the past, but now we are seeing more symptomatic people, which is a worry.

It shows that more people are getting ill before presenting themselves to health facilities and are diagnosed with COVID-19".

He expressed the concern when the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG), in collaboration with the Scripture Union, Ghana and Challenge Enterprise, made a presentation to the hospital to support in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The items, worth about GH¢20,000, included 10 boxes of the Good News Bible, Christian tracts, reading materials to help people recover from trauma, 10 packs of nose masks, hand sanitisers and toiletries.

Advice

Dr Oduro-Mensah advised patients to seek early diagnosis of their ailments and not wait till their conditions become worse before visiting hospital for care, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When you show any of the COVID-19 symptoms, call the helpline and you will be instructed on what to do.

“Seeking help early will also enable us to treat and possibly avert the situation from degenerating into a crisis. We want to contain the COVID-19 in Ghana and we know that with collective effort, this will be achieved," he said.

Case count

As of yesterday, Ghana’s COVID-19 case count stood at 10,201, with 3,755 recoveries and 48 deaths.

There are 6,398 active cases which are being managed.

Presentation

The General Secretary of the BSG, Rev. Dr Enoch E. Aryee-Atta, who made the presentation, said the gesture was to complement the government's efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

"In this moment of COVID-19, a lot of people are traumatised, including health professionals, who are inundated with work, and, therefore, we thought that the best way out is to introduce the Word of God to them and also support them with sanitary items and PPE.

“We want to encourage people diagnosed with COVID-19 that it is not the end of their lives; God will strengthen and heal them in these trying times," he added.

Dr Aryee-Atta said the gesture was being extended to other health facilities across the country and commended frontline health workers for their dedication and commitment to duty.