Expand 37 Hospital, build Noguchi-like centre up north – Mahama

For Ghana, in the future, to be well-prepared to fight infectious diseases such as COVID-19, it must expand the capacity of some of its main health facilities such as the 37 Military Hospital in Accra and also establish in the northern part of the country, a medical research centre à la the University of Ghana’s Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, former President John Mahama has proposed.

Speaking at a brief ceremony at his office in Accra on Saturday, at which he presented some PPE worth GHS300,000 to the National Democratic Congress’ COVID-19 Response Team for onward distribution to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital with a promise to procure a further GHS90,000 worth of PPE for other health posts, Mr Mahama said: “I propose the immediate development of a National Infectious Disease Response Plan that clearly sets out the specific steps to be taken to prevent the entry of such diseases, quickly arrest them even if they do enter our shores at a very early stage and reduce their impact to the barest minimum”.

Additionally, he said: “We must establish another medical research centre with the capacity of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in the Northern part of Ghana.

“We must expand the 37 Military Hospital, doubling the current bed size, and also build an Infectious Diseases Centre there to cater for the Southern sector to help with the management of cases like Ebola and COVID-19. A second and fully-equipped National Infectious Diseases Centre should be built in the middle and Northern Sectors of the country”.

The flag bearer of the biggest opposition party said: “As part of our national strategic medical stock, we must have such items as PPEs and other vital logistics in place well in advance of any outbreak. The current shortage, which has led to a global scramble for these items show that it is only the early bird that will catch the worm. We must always be prepared and not be caught off-guard again in such a situation”.

He added: “A key plank to this strategy is to boost the capacity of our manufacturing firms to produce these items locally to reduce, if not eliminate our dependence on imports which can be unreliable in times like this”.

Furthermore, he noted: “While we are it, I want to urge the government to expand the testing centres to include the Navrongo and Kintampo Research Centres, ensuring that Noguchi or KCCR supports them to test more people and on time”.

Mr Mahama also made some proposals to the government concerning how Ghanaians could be cushioned financially in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown in some parts of the country and the ravages the disease is causing to the economy.

“In addition to some suggestions I made yesterday [Friday], I urge the government to also:

1. Move the deadlines for businesses to submit their SSNIT, Tax returns a few months back, due to many factors including depletion of manpower and difficulties with modalities of payment.

2. We need a proper trickling down economics to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians: Direct distribution – Buffer stock must step in to distribute food stuffs to deprived households in deprived communities, and Expand LEAP to cover many more poor households. Vitamin C, fruits and food supplements should also be distributed.

3. Government through the Ministry of Health must target vulnerable groups such as people with Cancer, Diabetes, Asthma, pregnant women and extend support to them (Hospitals have some data on them).

4. Reduce indirect taxes (zero rate tax on essential products such as sanitisers, wipes, toilet rolls, food for a while).

5. Insurance for frontline health workers and security personnel who are fighting COVID-19.

6. ECOWAS & AU – Need for partnerships and consensual efforts to manage borders, leverage on food production capabilities.

7. Negotiate with the telcos to suppress their prices. Telcos can be assured of a free 6-month extension of licences – some of which are to expire very soon)”.

Mr Mahama concluded: “Let’s stay home, respect social distancing protocols and wash our hands with soap under running water regularly”, adding: “We Will Win The Fight Against Coronavirus, Together!”

Source: classfmonline.com