The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, recently briefing the press in Accra, revealed that COVID-19 cases in Ghana have started increasing, with the active patients being 452.
A Glance at the Fight against COVID-19
Ranking Member for Parliamentary Committee on Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated that the country spent not less than 23 billion Ghana Cedis to fight against COVID-19. The government of Ghana announced that the treatment of COVID-19 is free except for the fee charged at the airport. To reduce the risk and spread of transmission, the government placed restrictions on travel by ordering the closure of our sea, land, and air borders to human traffic.
The government further locked down the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area on 30th March 2020. The health sector advised we wash our hands frequently with clean water under running water or rub our hands with alcohol-based hand sanitisers. The government donated to some institutions and citizens, sanitisers and Veronica bucket to help combat the spread of the disease.
All persons who entered the country with COVID-19 and those who showed symptoms or came into contact with affected persons were quarantined. Furthermore, the government also tested and vaccinated the general public free of charge.
Are We Ready for Another Wave?
Another possible wave of COVID-19 is hovering over the head of the country and citizens are asking if the government has what it takes to combat this more deadly variant.
In a recent press address, the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital says that the government owes the hospital five million Ghana Cedis in expenditure in the fight against the previous wave of COVID and that the hospital is still engaging the government for reimbursement.
The hospital management added the funds owed by the government are affecting the operations of the hospital.
The above statements mean that the hospital does not, at present, have enough resources to cater for citizens should there be another wave of COVID. Cases are relatively low but are our health facilities ready to tackle another wave?
With a whopping GHS 23 billion spent on COVID and the government still owing Korle-Bu Teaching hospital and probably other health facilities as well, there is a cause for worry about the mismanagement of COVID-19 funds and how that can come back to bite us where it hurts.