The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has stated that the COVID-19 situation in the country is alarming and dire at this particular moment.
According to GMA, the risk of potential exponential rise in the number of cases cannot be discounted.
In a statement, the GMA noted that the various major health facilities (especially in the Accra Metropolis) involved in the management of moderate, severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients are over stretched.
GMA said in the last couple of weeks, in particular just before, during and after the Christmas/New Year festivities, the COVID-19 case count in the country sharply increased.
GMA attributed the increase case count to the total disregard for, and the lack of enforcement of all relevant COVID-19 preventive protocols throughout the country and importation of cases from other countries via travelers arriving at the point (s) of entry.
This development, the GMA said calls for concern by all well-meaning Ghanaians and Organizations.
GMA has therefore called for an urgent scale up of COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing for all positive cases as well as strict isolation and management of all infected persons to help break the chain of transmission.
“Additionally, COVID-19 testing should be made free or relatively cheaper for the ordinary Ghanaian who needs testing as a result of direct exposure or when symptomatic for COVID-19. Furthermore, there should be government led free mass testing in all identified COVID-19 hot spots. The GMA believes these will help address the current short falls in our testing and contact tracing regimes,” GMA stated.
Below is a statement:
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
