The Eastern Regional branch of Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) says it has observed with great concern increasing consumption of local gin (Akpeteshi) among some rural dwellers as a way of preventing Coronavirus infection.
According to the NGO, even children are being forced by their parents to drink the local gin so they do not get infected.
GCNH is linking the practice to inadequate information about the coronavirus disease which is a threat to efforts to contain its spread.
This, the coalition says is a result of inadequate information in the rural areas about coronavirus disease allowing misconceptions to fester.
“Some make fun of the disease due to lack of proper education.
Some are unable to buy alcohol-based sanitizers. Some thought drinking lots of local gin ‘Akpetshi’ can protect them from getting infected. We have also identified miss-communication between the regional health directorate, the Regional Minister and the Ghana Health Service with different figures”
The Eastern Regional Chairman of Coalition of NGOs in Health, Emmanuel Kwafo Minta said this during a press conference in Koforidua Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
He said, the Eastern Region GCNH during this epidemic a has toured various districts and communities in the region has identified high stigmatization against COVID-19 patients, their families, and frontline health workers at the community level adding that, “because of stigma, most people will not be willing to test for COVID-19 even if they’ve had contact with infected persons”.
Also, it stated that there is “Inadequate PPEs at various health centers and CHPS- It is sad to see health workers especially in the hard to reach communities with no or inadequate PPEs to fight against this epidemic.”
GCNH -Eastern Region has, therefore, made the following recommendations; “With regards to stigmatization at the community level, we besiege Traditional Authorities, opinion leaders and community members to accept and support infected persons. Adequate PPEs should be provided for all Hospitals, Health Centres and CHS zones in the region and training conducted for the health workers”
It is also demanding that “Education and sensitization at the communities should be intensified Individuals in the region should be encouraged to practice all preventive measures including hand washing with soap and water and social distancing protocols.”
Also, the Government should allocate funds to Health CSOs to support the fight against COVID-19. We entreat the region to immediately allocate and equip isolation centers in the region. We also appeal to individuals, cooperate organizations in the region to support through donations to support the vulnerable in the society.
CSOs should be part of response teams in districts, regional and national level and most importantly, the government should support CSOs to embark on education and sensitization against any form of stigmatization of COVID-19 patients.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
