COVID-19: I join ‘trotro’ to go for treatment despite testing positive – Nurse reveals

A COVID-19 patient who contracted the disease in the line of duty at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has revealed she has been abandoned to fend for herself and her family.

According to Abena, her husband, mother and nine-month-old baby have not been tested since she tested positive for the disease two weeks ago.

Abena revealed on Starr FM, Wednesday morning that due to her financial difficulties and the failure of the COVID-19 team to transport her to the hospital for treatment, her only choice is to join the public transport from Potsin in the Central region to Korle Bu hospital for treatment.

Abena who is asymptomatic told Francis Abban that she picks a commercial vehicle popularly known as ‘Trotro’ to Korle Bu at least once a week for treatment.

“We were given options of being admitted to the hospitals or isolating at home. I chose to self-isolate at home because I was scared of being charged when admitted. With where I stay at Potin, I can’t afford a taxi or Uber to Korle-Bu. I am COVID-19 positive and I have been told to come for checkup on my own. I board public transport when going.

”I have been home for two weeks now and I feel very bad. I am asymptomatic but the fact that you’ve been told you have COVID19 is sad. I live with my husband and a 9-month-old baby. Because of Covid19, I’ve had to send my baby to my mother. My husband stays in one room whiles I stay in one. There’s been no contact tracing and testing. They asked me to take same medication with people I live with because they assume that once I have maybe they also have it.” she said.

779 health workers infected

A total of 779 health workers have so far been infected with COVID-19 since the outbreak of the disease in Ghana.

This translates into six health sector workers getting infected each day since Ghana recorded its first two cases on March 12, 2020.

A joint statement issued by Health Sector Unions and Professional Associations said at least nine of their members have died from COVID-19.

“As at 30th June 2020, over seven hundred and seventy-nine (779) health workers had contracted the COVID- 19 virus in the line of duty with a total of nine (9) deaths having occurred so far. A large number of health workers are also currently in isolation awaiting their test results after having been exposed to the virus at their places of work.”

“The data gathered so far indicates that; 190 members of the GMA (Doctors) have contracted the virus with 4 unfortunate deaths. 410 members of the GRNMA and its Allied Associations (Nurses and Midwives) have contracted the virus with 1 unfortunate death. 156 members of the HSWU have contracted the virus with 3 unfortunate deaths. 23 members of the GHOSPA have contracted the virus with 1 unfortunate death,” the statement noted.

Ghana’s Case Count So Far

Ghana’s COVID-19 case count has risen to 23,463 after 641 new infections. These new cases were recorded in 52 districts across eight regions.

The number of discharged persons after treatment has also gone up to 18,622 with 4,717 active cases remaining.

Of the confirmed cases of the virus, 9,403 were detected thought routine surveillance whilst the other 14,060 were detected from contact tracing.

Three hundred and twenty-two thousand, nine hundred and ten tests have been conducted with a majority being conducted via contact tracing.

The Greater Accra Region accounted for 388 of the new cases which are in 16 out of 29 districts.

According to the Ghana Health Service, the majority of the cases in the Greater Accra Region are from Korle Klottey, La Dadekotopon, the Accra Metro, Ayawaso West, Ledzokuku and Tema, which have been previously identified as hotspots.

The Ashanti Region had 148 new cases from 18 out of 43 districts.