VIDEO: KATH Faces Imminent Closure As COVID Surges Among Doctors
The Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) risks being shut down as more doctors at the unit test positive for COVID-19.
Medical Director at KATH, Prof Baffour Kofi Opoku says dozens of doctors who tested positive for the virus are receiving treatment, a situation, he says, is threatening services at the unit.
Speaking to Kumasi-based FM, Prof Opoku said the hospital’s COVID treatment centres have also seen rising numbers of patients adding a surge among health workers threatening the fight against the virus.
“In November for about three weeks we didn’t have any patients on admission, but we have started getting patients on admission.”
”And the worst of it is that this surge is seriously affecting the staff of Komfo Anokye, I know that the policy is that ones a staff tests positive, a doctor Nurse or any other staff tests positive, the policy is that that person should stay off for two weeks if you come to the emergency now virtually all the doctors have tested positive and they are not coming to work.”
“So the reality is that it is affecting seriously the rendering of service in the hospital, and if you don’t take care and more than half of the staff of the hospital gets affected and they are going to stay away for two weeks, then it means we are going to close the hospital, which we don’t want to,” he said.
Prof Opoku fears other units of the hospital would be overwhelmed if the public do not adhere to the safety protocols.
“So the public should help us by observing the protocols and wearing the masks at all times.”
Asaase Radio