COVID-19: We All Deserve The Stimulus Package

21.04.2020 LISTEN

Concerned nurses of Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) has petitioned President Akufo-Addo to take out any form of discrimination against frontline nurses by ensuring they all benefit from the stimulus package announced weeks ago towards the fight against covid-19.

that the association is requesting for names of a selected few for the payment of the 50% for frontline workers.

In a press statement, the convenor, Akugri Gadafi Avokbil stated that the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) cited a letter requesting for staff at OPD, Laboratory staff, staff at the triaging unit, prescribers at post, security men at the main gates, revenue collectors who come into contact with patients without including nurses at the ward.

According to him, the letter is restricting hospitals to present only forty (40) health workers and clinics to present fifteen (15) health workers.

He mentioned that these neglected nurses are those who often come into contact with patients during monitoring of vital signs and serving of medications every four, six, eight, twelve and 24hrs.

Akugri Gadafi Avokbil added that the action by government kills the morale of Nurses and Midwives which will further worsen the already weak and vulnerable health system and in the long round affect the fight against the Covid-19.

Read Full Statement Below;

PRESS STATEMENT

20th, APRIL 2020

Coalition of concern Nurses of CHAG (CCNC)

It has come to the notice of the afore mentioned group of nurses and Midwives that ,CHAG is requesting for names of staff to be submitted to government and it's agencies for payment of the 50% for frontline health workers , in the said letter CHAG is requesting for staff at OPD, Laboratory staff, staff at the triaging unit , prescribers at post , Security men at main gate , Revenue collectors who come into contact with patients, while neglecting nurses at the ward , who comes into contact with patients during monitoring of vital signs and serving of medications every four, six, eight, twelve and 24hrs respectively .This letter is restricting hospitals to present only forty (40) health workers and clinics to present fifteen ( 15) health workers.

We therefore wish to bring to the attention of his Excellency the president of the republic of Ghana, Ministry of health, the Covid-19 select committee and all Ghanaians, that we appreciate the measures put in place so far to prevent the spread of virus and the Tax exemption given to all health workers but we see the directive on the side of the 50%, as discriminatory, bias and we believe, this directive should not be used to determine payment of frontline health workers.

We all are witnesses to the fact that nurses and other health professionals have been quarantined on several occasions, tested and even shown to be positive for Covid-19, after coming into contact with patients, who have been admitted in their facilities without the facilities knowing that they are Covid-19 patients, the question several of us continue to ask ourselves is that where lies our fate should we contract the virus.

This has further made us to raise questions about the insurance package that was announced by government, which was also meant for these same frontliners and where lies the fate of those health workers who have already gotten the viruses and were not necessarily selected, as this letter seems to suggest.

We wish to call on all Ghanaians to show interest in this matter, and not to allow our policy makers to bring the morale of our nurses and Midwives down, which will further worsen our already weak and vulnerable health system and in the long round affect our fight against the Covid-19.

Attached is the blueprint copy of the said document for your perusal.

Thank you.

Signed..................

CONVENER:

Akugri Gadafi Avokbil.

SDA Hospital Obuasi.

0248401659/0242293680

SECRETARY

Yogri Michael

Valley View hospital Techiman

+233 24 995 2873

PRO