Coronavirus: Health Minister’s Report Very Disappointing – Okudzeto Ablakwa

MP criticizes Minister's briefing on Ghana's preparedness towards coronavirus

Coronavirus: Health Minister’s Report Very Disappointing – Okudzeto Ablakwa
Okudzeto Ablakwa

Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed no confidence in the health minister’s report on Ghana’s preparedness towards coronavirus.

The MP described the health minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu’s report to parliament as “very disappointing and depressing”.

According to the MP, the amount of money needed to combat the outbreak has not been made available by the government. He added that the minister did not properly address the gaps pointed out by the World Health Organisation in dealing with the virus.

“Ghc 35 million required not fully released (Some Ghc 20 million still outstanding). WHO gaps not addressed”.

The health minister disclosed government’s plan to set up a 100-bed capacity facility along other isolation facilities, to serve as a centre for quarantining persons with suspected coronavirus infection. Okudzeto Ablakwa however said other areas in Ghana are being neglected in the establishment of quarantine centres.

“Isolation centres all earmarked for Accra without considering other parts of Ghana even as some remain uncompleted.

 

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“No convincing arrangements for other points of entry except Terminal 3. No clear plans for stranded students in Wuhan” he added.

Okudzeto bemoaned that, Ghana being a country on WHO’s priority list of the 13 most vulnerable African countries, the government has to make better preparations than what was disclosed by the health minister to parliament.

Mr. Manu, who briefed Parliamentarians on the state of the country’s preparedness Wednesday, March 4, 2020 outlined some measures the government has put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus into the country.

“A quarantine centre has been established. Another remotely located 100-bed capacity facility is being secured for the purpose of quarantine for illegible persons and this will be ready for use in two weeks. We do not hope that we’ll get to that situation,” he disclosed to the House.

He added that “dedicated contact lines have been given to the general public to report suspected cases of Covid-19. Phone lines are 0552222004, 0552222005, 05094977100, 0558439868 and 0800110555.

These are all toll-free numbers. Alternatively, text messages can be sent to the shortcode 199. Mr. Speaker, so far, 5,000 PPEs have been procured and distributed to all regions, major health facilities, points of entry, teaching hospitals, treatment centres and selected health facilities,”.