MoH plans to restock health facilities with PPE
The Ministry of Health has put in place a plan to consistently restock all health facilities in the frontline of the national COVID-19 response with enough PPE to ensure that staff in the frontline are protected.
The MoH said that had become necessary because most items in the PPE were not reusable and that resulted in a shortage in some facilities, a situation that raised concerns about health staff being at risk of contracting the infection.
Presenting some of the PPE to the LEKMA Hospital in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, said the initiative was to ensure that premium attention is given to the care of affected persons as well as the safety of frontline workers.
The items presented to LEKMA included 1000 pieces of nose masks, 50 packets of examination gloves, 1000 pieces of surgical masks, reusable goggles, 200 coveralls, 20 pairs of gum boots, 100 pieces of surgical gowns, head gear, hand sanitisers and liquid soap.
Adequate PPE
Dr Okoe-Boye noted that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, one major issue of concern had been the adequacy of PPE for frontline health staff.
This, he explained, also posed a risk to the citizenry as they come into contact with the frontline workers in public places such as markets, supermarkets and in public transport.
Dr Okoe-Boye explained that PPE were disposable, thus for such an essential lifesaving venture, there should be adequate and a consistent plan for restocking and re-supply.
“We want to keep track and restock consistently so that we avoid the situation where health facilities will have to run out and request as much as possible,” he emphasised.
Other facilities
Dr Okoe-Boye said other facilities in the frontline would also be constantly restocked according to their capacity and needs within the plan.
He said to ensure consistent restocking; the government was collaborating with local producers to ensure a constant supply of components of the PPE.
“We will soon take additional delivery of over 3,000 pieces of face masks, 50,000 medical scrubs, 90,000 hospital gowns, 90,000 head covers and 600,000 medical masks (N95) from local producers,” he said.
He said thousands of PPE had already gone out and there were more than enough in stock.
On the national situation, Dr Okoe-Boye said the country was doing well in terms of response, making significant strides but he was quick to add that if the country relented on adhering to preventive measures, there could be retrogression in progress made.
The Medical Superintendent of the LEKMA Hospital, Dr Akua Gyimah-Asante, expressed gratitude to the MoH and the government for the support.
She said the PPE would help facilitate the management of more patients and provide adequate care for patrons of the facility to enhance the national response.
Writer’s email doreen.andoh@graphic.com.gh