The Minority in Parliament says Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) essential for frontline workers to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, are unavailable in various constituencies.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, demanded that President Akufo-Addo should walk the talk on his assurances that PPEs have been distributed across the country.
“We are in crisis and as I speak to you, health professionals are calling us all over the country demanding PPEs in the various districts.
“The Ministry has sent words by mouth to hospitals that they should provide holding centres without adding any money to the instruction,” he stated.
According to the Ranking Member who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Juabuso constituency, numerous healthcare workers are at risk, especially now that the virus has been spreading at the community level.
“I want to appeal to government that, if indeed they have PPEs they should distribute them to the districts and chip compounds for the hardworking professionals to get access to those PPEs.”
He then demanded that the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, appear before Parliament to provide a comprehensive distribution list of the PPEs.
“I am very shocked that the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has kept quiet over these things because they must protect the interest of medical doctors and health professionals in this country,” he added.
On his part, the MP of Agortime Ziope, Mr Charles Agbeve added that healthcare providers in his constituency have no PPEs and are worried.
“My constituency, shares boundaries with Togo and yesterday, my District Health Director called to beg me to supply our health centres with PPEs,” he narrated.
However, Deputy Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Freda Prempeh insisted that there were many PPEs available to be distributed nationwide.
She said more structures were being put in place to ensure every part of the country got PPEs.
“I am surprised that the NDC is saying that the President is not doing enough. If only one person can support this fight with 130, 000 nose masks, 130,000 gloves, 450 beds, with galloons of hand sanitisers let alone the President.”
-myjoyonline.com