“Ghana Health Service being selective in supply of PPEs”- Health Service Union cry out
The Health Service Union is accusing government for neglecting its responsibility in providing adequate protection for health professionals in the country, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The group alleges that their employers, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, have failed in this very crisis to create a safer environment and safety logistics for their staff to operate effectively.
The Health Service Union comprises of professionals such as Biomedical Scientist, Radiographers, Physiotherapist, Health Administrators, Human Resource, and Dental Technicians among others in the health sector.
Western Region’s Industrial Relations Officer for the Union, Jerry Detse Mensah-Pah argues that their employers’ negligence have caused the infection of some six members by the novel coronavirus. He exclaimed that the employer, given the circumstances, have reneged on their responsibility as defined in Section 22 (1) of their collective agreement.
He disclosed that the inadequacies with the provision of Personal Protective Equipment to the various health facilities, have caused management to be selective in allocating them to units where their members work, adding that “members have had to reuse even nose masks for more than a month. So we are only pleading with our employer, to as much as possible, prioritize the provision of these PPEs. Its not just a matter of nose mask. And most of the facilities do not have it”.
He alleged that management of health facilities have ‘cowardly’ maintained their silence on the matter, and that is endangering lives of health workers and to an extent the communities these professionals live.
“… they won’t speak about it. And I don’t seek to speak for the hospitals, but for the interest of my members working in the various facilities. Some of our members have been infected by the COVID-19. So its very crucial for us,” he cried.
So far three of their members have been infected by the disease in the Western Region.
