Covid-19: Ghana Medical Association bemoans rising numbers in Ghana
Our Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units that managed a lot of these severe and critically-ill Covid-19 patients are full and overwhelmed
As Ghana keeps on battling Covid-19, the Ghana Medical Association, GMA has bemoaned a significant rise in Covid-19-related deaths and critical illness among the Ghanaian population. It is cautioning that the situation does not look good, as health facilities at the moment look overstretched.
Dr Justice Yankson, who is the association’s General Secretary revealed that most of the country’s Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units are full to capacity, making it difficult to accommodate more Covid-19 patients.
He further revealed that the issue among other things is because of the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant and the lack of public adherence to the preventive protocols.
“What is clear at this point is that most of our severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients are beginning to see some struggle in terms of where to manage them. Most of our Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units that managed a lot of these severe and critically-ill Covid-19 patients are full and overwhelmed and it is not a good thing for all of us,” he said.
Ghana is considered to be experiencing a third wave of Covid-19 following an astronomical increase in active cases.
From barely 1,000 active cases about two months ago, there are over 6,922 active cases with 880 total deaths as of August 6, 2021.
The number of deaths indicates that in just a few days in August, at least 26 people have succumbed to the virus. And according to Dr Yankson, the situation is extremely worrying.
He indicated that the reason for the development includes late reporting to health facilities for treatment and challenges in accessing ICUs for Covid-19 treatment.
“What is happening is that there is also the rising number of deaths and we are beginning to see a lot more people dying all because of sometimes late reporting to the hospital or difficulty trying to get them to these High dependency units and the intensive care units so it is not a good thing,” he added.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
