The Management of Hawa Memorial Hospital in Akyem Osiem in the Eastern region is exploring the option of remotely diagnosing and treating patients through available communication technologies following a significant decline in Out-Patient Attendance(OPD) over coronavirus fears.
Hawa Memorial Hospital has so far recorded six suspected cases of coronavirus but all tested negative.
Nonetheless, the Administrator of the Hospital, Dr Ruben Oppong says “the Coronavirus pandemic has created fear among clients so, within the shortest possible time, OPD attendance has significantly reduced more than half. So we noticed people are afraid to come to Hospital even if they are sick so we considered rolling out telemedicine which we will put our numbers out there for those people to call to talk to Doctors in this facility to diagnose and prescribe treatments for them.”
He also said staff at the facility were apprehensive over inadequate personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which management managed to procure a few. They were later augmented by government supply and a donation by former President John Dramani Mahama.
The Administrator of the facility said this over the weekend when the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress Samuel Ofosu Ampofo on behalf of the flagbearer for the Party John Dramani Mahama presented for the second time pair of Gumboots, disposal coverall suits, Medical Protective overall suits, goggles and facial masks, Nurses caps among others.
Additionally, the former President donated to the Saviour Church, 40 boxes of bottled water, and 100 boxes of Food Relief Packs each made up of a quantity of rice, sugar, Mackerel, cooking oil, tin tomatoes among others to be distributed to the vulnerable in the Church.
“Savior Church, Ghana is a mission church and many people reside here, moreover there is a cordial relationship between the former Prez John Mahama and the Church. Today he sent us here to present to them 100 boxes of food relief packages, 40 boxes of bottled water to the leader of the church to give to its mission members who couldn’t go out to work again during the COVID – 19 pandemic,” Ofosu Ampofo said.
He added that “Prez John Mahama can’t donate to the church alone and leave their hospital behind, so we also have in hands Personnel Protective Equipments (PPE’s) and 50 boxes of bottle water to support the hospital. The virus is real so let’s all take good care of ourselves. President John Dramani Mahama has contributed a lot to the fight against this pandemic. He has donated PPEs to all the regional hospitals in Ghana and supported various vulnerable groups.”
The General Superintendent of the Savior Church, Ghana Abraham Kwaku Adusei received the items with gratitude on behalf of the Church.
Samuel Ofosu Ampofo was accompanied by the Eastern Regional NDC Chairman John Owusu Amankropah (Jowak), Ambassador Victor Smith, Abuakwa North Constituency NDC Chairman Mr Kojo Siaw and many other party dignitaries from the regional secretariat.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
