The Eastern Regional Health Directorate is worried that, increasing stigmatization against persons tested negative for COVID-19 could erode gains being made to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the region.
The number of persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Eastern Region has risen to 28 as of April 10, 2020.
All confirmed cases were recorded among 244 quarantined workers of AFCON Construction Company at Kpong in Lower Manya Krobo working on Tema to Akosombo railway project.
The cases are expected to increase as more results are yet to be released.
The Eastern Regional Health Directorate on April 9, 2020, announced that it had submitted a total of 373 samples of suspected Coronavirus cases in the region to Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research awaiting results.
Out of the number, 244 samples were taken from contacts connected to Indian expatriate tested positive for COVID-19 on March 31, 2020, at the railway camp in Kpong.
Three are also persons who had contact with a person tested Positive in the Upper East Region.
Break down of some suspected cases from other municipalities in which samples have been taken to Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research are New Juaben south Municipality (2), Nsawam Adoagyiri(1), Ayensuano District(1) and Atiwa West Municipality(10).
The Eastern Regional Health Directorate is however not happy over the high level of stigmatization in the region hence “appealing to all citizens to desist from stigmatizing (name-calling, branding, finger-pointing) those thought to be infected by COVID-19 such as returnees, contacts of confirmed cases, foreigners or various ethnic groups thought to be infected with COVID -19”.
According to the Regional Health Directorate, “this behavior is counterproductive and unfair. We can only fight COVID-19 when we are united”.
In a statement, the Regional Health Director, Dr. (Mrs.) Alberta Adjebeng Biritwum-Nyarko commends all media houses for their enormous effort in fighting the COVID-19 by devoting airtime to educate the populace on the preventive measures to avoid infection and the spread of the disease.
According to him, health workers in the region “remain committed to fighting COVID-19 and together we shall win if everyone supports us by abiding by policies already laid out by H. E the President of Ghana.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
