MEMOIRS OF A CONCERNED CITIZEN ON COVID-19 (PART 6)
The fear for COVID-19 keeps tapering off. This seems to be good news yet cases keep rising with the majority of citizens being complacent and careless with each passing second. Many are those who no longer believe we are not in normal times and thus, living their lives just like before COVID-19 came into our camp.
Ghana stands with a total of 11,118 cases. Out of these, 3,978 have recovered, 7,098 cases are still active, and probably seeking treatment in various isolation centers, and sadly 48 lives have been lost. It is being rumored that lives are still being lost. Some credible journalists and even media houses are talking about the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi losing his life but our death count update is still 48. I’d love to believe these are just rumors, otherwise, the figure needs to be updated as soon as possible.
These are figures for June 10, 2020, being updated on June 13, 2020. Meaning, our data is lagging behind about two days.
Is this the kind of data we are making decisions with as a nation or the Government has access to real-time data?
If yes, then how do they expect us to confide in the decisions they take while feeding us obsolete data?
No? Then, I guess we were never close to being in control of the situation as is being portrayed. We are still in the woods.
The delays in updates are not helping. It is imperative to be transparent with data in these times.
With figures currently skyrocketing; including the severe and critical cases, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, the special advisor on health at the presidency acknowledged the insufficiency of health workers to manage the Intensive Care Unit cases. If that is the case, then what are we doing to forestall our health system from being overwhelmed, i.e. drastically minify infections?
We acknowledge and appreciate the enhanced contact tracing and testing. It is commendable but the explanations of cases rising due to enhanced contact tracing and testing are flimsy. Cases wouldn’t rise if there is no infection. Cases are rising because we are testing and people are getting sick. We are tired of this resounding explanation.
In the Ashanti Region, contact tracers are laying down their tools due to allowance disparities.
Meanwhile, the World Bank is providing US$100 million with US$35 million in emergency support to improve our response.
The IMF also approved disbursements of US$1 billion to Ghana to help address the urgent fiscal and balance of payments needs that the Ghanaian economy is facing as a result of COVID-19.
What could be causing the slashes in allowances leading to contact tracers laying down their tools?
Do we not have the money to pay them or there are some unscrupulous people countermining efforts to fight COVID-19 out of greed?
This has to be addressed as a matter of urgency. According to the report on theghanareport.com, in a letter addressed to the President, 1,653 new cases have been recorded between the periods workers laid down their tools. Thus, some 16,530 contacts are not being followed.
All these people if positive will tend to infect others. I hope this issue is addressed well before it escalates into an uncontrollable situation.
Instead of chasing little achievements, I hope we ask ourselves what we are not doing right for which reason infections keep rising as well as possibly revising some restrictions that have been eased.
COVID-19 is real. Please, let us stay safe and help fight this battle in unison.
Edmund, E. Terkpernor,
June 13, 2020.
This is the kind of write ups bloggers and other media houses should be producing but no, our stomach media men will go for money and cover things. It's time Ghanaians accept that the government is controlling the health sector and thus their data as well. They're deceiving Ghanaians, we see things they want us to see and tell us what they want us to hear. We don't have the power of true hearing anymore, corruption everywhere.
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