Health At Risk!!! To Whom It May Concern

The provision of health care services is an important proviso in every society and the nation at large. It is against this background that every government in an attempt to safeguard the life of its citizenry ensures that health care services are readily available. What would become of a society or nation with a population of ill health? What becomes of the productive manpower?

There are dire consequences for a nation that relegates healthcare delivery to the background. Productivity is not only affected but such a society or nation stands a greater probability of extinction since mortality rate will increase astronomically.

The people of Afram Plains [an agrarian community] have not been left out of the share of this national cake-health care services. There are hospitals, clinics and CHPS compounds in almost every major town in this part of the countryside.

But what has become of the culture of healthcare delivery by healthcare professionals in these hospitals, clinics and CHPS compounds in Afram Plains? I have been propelled to write this article when I visited the Presbyterian health centre at Tease, the district capital of Afram Plains south constituency.

The fact is incontrovertible and I will not mince with words-the healthcare delivery system at Tease Presbyterian Health Centre is next to nothing, and nothing good to write home about. This is a health centre where human dignity has been rendered as absolute trash. Disrespect for clients has climbed onto a legendary status. I do not intend to, by this article mention any names but want to clearly state my position on the actions and inactions of healthcare professionals at this healthcare centre.

Oh but let me first ask “is healthcare delivery a right or privilege” Well your guess may be as good as mine. Don’t these healthcare workers know that “a sound mind lives in a healthy body”?

Let me quickly give you a routine about the wack health delivery system here. This is a true account of what I witnessed when I visited the healthcare centre.

“A parent brings in her sick child at about 10:06 am, pulse and temperature is checked within a matter of five minutes. The sick child is then taken to the lab for test. The laboratory technician after picking the blood sample leaves his post/room [with the lab office opened] only to return after an hour and thirty minutes to attend to a now queuing clients who have gone through the initial stages of pulse and temperature checks. [ Had the microscope been stolen after his return what would be his story to tell?] He then hands the lab report to the parent of the sick child thirty minutes after his return. This sick child is then taken to the consulting room to see the one and only supposed Doctor who reported to work at about 10:30 am. They spend about 10 minutes in the consulting room after which drugs were prescribed to be taken at the dispensary for a fee. At the dispensary again, another drama unfolds. The dispensary attendants are on break enjoying their meals to the full glare of clients. They therefore ask the parent of the sick child to wait patiently while they do justice to their food. And they spent well over 40 minutes on their meal.”

All these dramatic scenes are showcased at this health centre without any one to supervise what goes in and out of this health centre. Oh perhaps it’s for the government and we all know what government workers do at their places of work. I bet you can’t pretend you knoweth not.

Clearly give a picturesque view of the incident. Now assuming without admitting that this sick child is in an emergency and needs urgent medical treatment what would have become of the situation? For the child to die and cry foul afterwards. In fact, the welfare of clients is not at the heart of these so called health professionals. Another mind boggling drama I witnessed was how these officials were moving to and fro from one office to the other and discussing issues best known to them whilst clients were suffering in long queues in wait of treatment.

While I wouldn’t like to be seen as overly critical, it is equally important that some of these healthcare workers are cautioned with immediate effect to desist from their “I don’t care” attitude displayed at their place of work. The insatiable appetite by health care workers to humiliate and embarrass clients is something way out of health care practice.

It beats my wildest imagination why people dressed in white, green and white, brown etc. mandated to provided health care delivery to the people treat clients as if they are doing them a great service. Aren’t they paid for services they render?

The earlier an effortful attempt is geared towards redeeming the image of this healthcare centre, the better it would be for all of us. It has attracted a bad name for itself for far too long.

I may perhaps become the next Anas to bring you the unprofessional attitudes of healthcare workers that happens at this healthcare centre. Watch Out…GAGAE!!!

Asante Louis
0540939125/0206819170
[email protected]