‘No coronavirus testing, no work’ – some Korle-Bu nurses strike
In a follow-up to earlier threats, some medical professionals at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital say they won’t work unless they are tested for the dreaded coronavirus that has killed five people in Ghana.
The nurses stationed at the Accident and Emergency Department of the country’s biggest hospital said it was risky to carry on working at the front lines of the fight against the sickness.
Already, there are reports of an infected patient at the country’s premier hospital.
“It is sad to inform our heads of department that it has created fear and panic among we the nurses who are always close to the patients.
“We write with deep pain and regret as such information has been kept from us and consequently putting us at risk. As we write this letter, a substantial number of nurses at the centre are not in their right state of mind,” the Coalition of Nurses at the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital said in a press statement issued Friday.
They have also asked for the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), a demand that has also been made by the medical staff at the Adabraka Polyclinic.
“This will help us deal with all forms of psychological and emotional stress, so we can work with sound minds and give our patients the best of care,” the coalition of nurses said in a press release.
The government has received its share of a Chinese billionaire’s benevolence to Africa after Jack Ma donated 5.4 million face masks, more than one million testing kits, 40,000 items of protective clothing and 60,000 sets of face shields to countries in Africa.
The government has also said it had procured 5,000 PPEs for health workers. However, health workers complain about the lack of PPEs.
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COALITION OF NURSES AT ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CENTER, KORLE-BU TEACHING HOSPITAL
We write in line to the content of a letter circulating about a patient who tested positive to COVID-19 at the Accident and Emergency Center.
It is sad to inform our heads of department that it has created fear and panic among we the nurses who are always close to the patients.
We write with deep pain and regret as such information has been kept from us and consequently putting us at risk.
As we write this letter, a substantial number of nurses at the center are not in their right state of mind.
We are emotionally and psychologically stressed and saddened with fear and panic.
Our official letter for this action is ready and will be submitted to the appropriate offices on Monday, April 6, 2020.
We, therefore, come together as aggrieved nurses of this center that we are not working until everyone in the department is tested and results submitted and sorted out.
Also, all the appropriate PPEs should be provided to aid us work effectively and efficiently without putting ourselves and patients at risk.
This will help us deal with all forms of psychological and emotional stress, so we can work with sound minds and give our patients the best of care.
In conclusion, all we want to say is, NO TESTING WITH SUBMITTED RESULTS, NO WORK
NO APPROPRIATE PPEs, NO WORK
Signed:
NURSES AT ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CENTER, KBTH
That is the way to go. Ghana is not worth dying for. These nurses and doctors have family and their family will suffer in case these breadwinners die.