Coronavirus: “We Can’t Lose Any Nurse While Caring For Patients — UPNMG To Members

Union Of Professional Nurses And Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG)

The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG) has advised all health workers under its umbrella to protect themselves in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement, the Union urged all nurses and health workers to take the needed precaution because they “are expected to stand on the battlefront just as soldiers do in times of war and be prepared for the task at hand.”

The UPNMG also urged the government to strengthen the country’s port health system to ensure efficient screening of all those who travel in and out of the country.

“The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives Ghana, (UPNMG) would like to call on the Ministry of Health, all agencies and stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that appropriate PPE’s are provided to protect Nurses and Midwives who have no choice but to bear the risk in managing cases in our various health delivery points,” sections of the statement reads.

“This also comes to caution Nurses and Midwives to protect themselves always using the standard precautions and additional precautions outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Let us not take anything for granted. We cannot afford to lose any Nurse or Midwife in the process of caring for their clients,” it added.

Last Thursday, the Ghana government officially confirmed that the country has recorded its first two cases of the coronavirus.

The coronavirus cases have since increased to six, with over 150 contacts traced by the Ministry of Health.

This has led to some travel restrictions into the country, with President Akufo-Addo also announcing a ban on all social gatherings, indefinite closure of all schools and a ban on sporting activities.

Statement from Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG)