About 18 health personnel’s in Obuasi East District in the Ashanti Region have been honored by the government for their imminence contributions to the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, known as “The Presidential Awards”, each of the awardees received certificate of recognition signed by the President.
It was initiated by President Akufo-Addo to acknowledge the exceptional role of frontline health workers who dedicated themselves to their work and rendered invaluable services during the pandemic.
Speaking with the media after presenting the awards on behalf of the President, the Chief Executive for Obuasi East District Hon. Faustina Amissah said the role of Frontline workers especially health personnel during the COVID-19 outbreak should not be taken for granted. She said the Presidential awards for Frontline workers was appropriate and demonstrates government’s appreciation to the workers for their dedication to duty during the pandemic. “The resistance the health workers faced in even identifying affected persons to be isolated and locating isolation centers was herculean task. I believe this will motivate the rest to also put in much effort to deliver quality healthcare to the people”
She again reiterated that the outbreak of COVID-19 has taught Ghanaians how to prepare adequately for unforeseen contingencies including pandemics. She said the health workers in the district have been trained and equipped with skills on pandemic preparedness. Hon. Amissah was certain that such situations would be effectively dealt with by the Health Directorate in the Obuasi East District. Hon. Amissah further assured that the Assembly was prepared to support the Health directorate to make sure health workers perform their duties optimally.
Health Director bemoaned exodus workers Ghana is facing a severe shortage of Nurses as many of them are leaving the country for better paid jobs in high-income countries like UK and the USA. At the Presidential awards ceremony which also coincided with the mid-year health review of the district, the Obuasi East District Health Director Delphine Gborgblorvor bemoaned the increasing rate at which nurses and health workers in general are leaving the country in search of greener pasture. She said the phenomenon has greatly affected nurses to patient ratio and also increased the work load on the already existing health workers.
She said though it was difficult to stop health workers from traveling since they mostly follow due processes, she appealed to government as a matter of urgency recruit nurses into the system to fill the void left by the traveling workers. On issues of maternal mortality, Madam Gborgblorvor said per their indicators, maternal mortality rate has gone down as compared to figures from last year. She said increasing in home visit which the directorate collaborated with the Member of Parliament, HON. DR. Patrick Boakye Yiadom who brought home visit bags and packages for workers, has aided the improvement in the maternal mortality situation in the district.
She lauded the President for instituting the awards scheme for the COVID-19 Frontline workers for their hard work and diligence during the outbreak of disease. She was of the view that the award will spur the workers on, to continue to work hard and deliver on their mandate.
FELICIA MANU)
DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER