Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected over 8,548 people in Ghana, several measures and interventions have been put in place by governments to stop the spread of the virus in order to save lives.
At the press briefing, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Mayor, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi stated that, the Anti-stigma Campaig is to help Stop Covid-19 stigmatization, Discrimination, and advised the media to spread the message across the globe and together we shall overcome these pandemic.
He calls on the general public to be sympathetic toward patients and survivors of the disease and avoid any kind of discrimination and stigmatization.
In a speech at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of Konfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Dr. Oheneba, continued that one of the challenges the health department in Ghana are facing is the stigma and discrimination.
According to him, we should accept that the Covid-19 has now come to stay with us so Ghanaians should end such discrimination because the infection alone was a traumatic experience, and stigmatization would make it worse.
He therefore called on the Ghanaian people to follow the authorities’ hygiene advice and comply with quarantine orders to better contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The programm was attended by, Hon Osei Assibey Antwi ( Kumasi Mayor) Dr Oheneba Owusu Danso CEO Konfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) , Hon Simon Osei Mensah ( Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Ruth Owusu Antwi.
Addressing the Media, the Ashanti regional minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah, cautioned that people that ” if you had any symptoms of the Covid-19, you shouldn’t hide it but immediately visit the nearest hospital for treatment”, he added.
According to the Regional Minister, Ghana is ahead of some countries in terms of protocols but because of stigmatisation the Ghana health service found it difficult to isolate the infected patients.
Nana Baffour Osei Hyeaman, “Otumfour Amawerɛ Hene” urged the media to carry out the accurate information to the general public but with no fear and panic. He tasked the general public to help fight such behaviour of stigmatization and welcome covid-19 patients with joy.
Nana Baffour Osei Hyeaman, called all Ghanaians to abide by safety measures which has been decleared by the Ministry of Health, washing our hands with soap under running water, using of hand sanitizers, Social distancing and wearing of nose mask must be practice frequently by the general public.
Report by Benard K Dadzie