COVID 19: ‘We can’t risk having Western Region infested’- Minister assures
The world is seriously battling the deadly coronavirus. The fight against the pandemic though mostly geared towards saving lives, nations are mindful of the economic impact –during and post-pandemic.
It is feared, as the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta reported the nation should expect a read GDP growth of 1.5 percent this year in the worst-case scenario; the lowest in 37 years.
For which reason, and taking cognizance of the Western Region as the backbone of the country’s economic growth, the Regional Minister Hon. Kwabena Okyere-Darko Mensah has stressed the need to take proactive measures to safeguard the lives of the people in such trying times.
He proffered that some deliberate actions be taken to ensure the continuity of businesses and all other productive engagements in the region, so the country does not grind into economic shocks, as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.
“…as much as possible, we want to keep Western Region, Coranavirus –free so that this region can continue to produce to support the country. And that is what we want to do.
“We believe that even if we get a case, we will be able to manage it such that it will not affect the productivity of the region. That is why we are believing that prevention is better than cure” he stressed.
The GHC50,000.00 Donation to Effia Nkwanta Hospital
In pursuit of this goal, Members of Parliament for Takoradi, Effia, Kwesimintsim, Essikado-Ketan, and Sekondi Constituencies, mobilised some items and cash donation of Ten Thousand Ghana Cedi (GHC 10,000.00) to support the regional health referral center; Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, today.
The items worth Forty Thousand Ghana Cedi (GHC40,000.00), included; 20 Veronica buckets, 100 pieces each of PPE overalls, disposable aprons, nose masks, head nets, gloves, shoe covers, medical safety goggles, and 2 boxes of FDA approved hand sanitizers.
Hon. Okyere-Darko Mensah who presented the donation on behalf of the parliamentarians, argued that the donors (MPs in the above listed Constituencies), though have made some individual donations to their constituents, as part of effort aimed at preventing the spread of the disease, couldn’t have ignored their responsibility to do same for the only referral center in the region.
“The five of us decided to make a donation to the Regional Hospital because that is the last stop, when it comes to these type of serious cases” he added.
He added that organisations in the region have been asked to support in any capacity, to eradicate the disease.
“We’ve made arrangements with other companies so that they can also come and support”, the Minister noted, and trusted that “we can be ready when duty calls”
Medical Director for ENRH, Dr. Joseph Kojo Tambil was appreciative of the gesture.
He said; “For me, it looks that there’s a lot of thinking that has gone into the selection of the items. Each of them is very useful to the fight that we currently are in”
He also commended government for enforcing measures taken so far in fighting the pandemic, most especially, in motivating health workers to deliver in such critical moment.
“We very happy for the measures that government has put in place- first of all to motivate health workers and also to ensure that we all work together to ensure that we defeat COVID 19” Dr Tambil expressed.
He however added that some additional resources will be needed to deepen public knowledge on the disease, and also build capacity of personnel in case management.
