11 things GMA wants government, Ghanaians to do against COVID-19

Ghana has witnessed a surge in its COVID-19 cases. This latest surge is three times more than what was recorded three months ago.

Official figures from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicated 298 active cases as of October 8, 2020, but this has shot up to 1, 404 as of January 11, 2021, the last report released at press time.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has attributed the rise in cases to the disregard of the existing COVID-19 preventive protocols and importation of the disease from other countries.

Following this development, the team of medical professionals has called for immediate steps to be taken to curb the surge in cases.

Below are some of the measures they want to be taken to stem the spread of the disease.

1. The GMA calls for an urgent scale-up of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing for all positive cases as well as strict isolation and management of all infected persons to help break the chain of transmission.

2. COVID-19 testing should be made free or relatively cheaper for the ordinary Ghanaian who needs testing as a result of direct exposure or when symptomatic for COVID-19. Furthermore, there should be government-led free mass testing in all identified  COVID-19  hot The GMA believes these will help address the current shortfalls in our testing and contact tracing regimes.

3. The Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service and the National Commission for Civic Education should re-launch and intensify education on all necessary COVID-19  protocols in collaboration with the Ghana Medical Association.

4. The GMA appreciates the effort of various media houses with regards to public education and urges them to continue their good works till the virus is defeated.

5. The GMA also calls on the law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with the protocols at all levels.

6. Adequate Personal Protective Equipment  (PPE) should be made available at all health facilities for use by the health professionals to curb COVID-19 infections amongst health care staff. There should also be continuous COVID-19 training and motivation for health workers.

7. As pupils and students go to school, Government and Managers of Schools (Public and Private) at all levels should ensure that there is adequate education and strict adherence to all COVID-19 preventive protocols.

8. Adherence to all strategies for early detection, isolation, and treatment of any potential COVID-19  case  (s) in the schools is very critical in preventing the spread of the disease among pupils, students, and staff.

9. The GMA, however, urges government to do all it can to fast track the process to enable Ghanaians get the needed vaccination before the pandemic gets out of hand in the Government should also ensure that there is adequate public education on the COVID-19 vaccine before its arrival, approval, and administration in Ghana.

11. The GMA also urges the general public to disregard the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding vaccines in general and the COVID-19 vaccine in particular currently circulating on various media platforms.
12. We entreat all Ghanaians to take their personal safety into their hands by adhering strictly to all the COVID-19 safety Do your best to stay safe at all times. COVID-19 IS REAL