COVID-19: PPE Shortage Hits Tamale Testing Center

Available Information indicates that the Tamale Covid-19 Center has ran short of Personal Protective  Equipment (PPE) to facilitate the running of the facility.

The development according to sources might not permit the facility to work in the coming days due to limited PPE.

The technicians need N95 among other materials during sorting and pooling.

The testing center at the Tamale Teaching hospital serves the five Regions of the North and Bono region as well.

The facility which started work about two weeks ago has received about 3,000 samples and run tests on 2,000 samples already with 600 being processed and about 400 samples on standby.

The Head of the laboratory, Dr. Abass Abdul-Karim told journalists that the lack of PPE and motivation for staff members who work at the facility is affecting productivity.

According to him, about 35 personnel in various teams have been working for so many hours without motivation.

“Our efforts are being met with some challenges so far as our PPEs and logistics are concern and motivation for the staff who are doing the work,” he lamented.

Dr. Abdul-Karim appealed to individuals, institutions and organizations to come to their aid of the facility.

He however cautioned residents to take the issue of Covid-19 seriously adding that the virus is real and urged the public to adhere to all the health directives to prevent the spread of the virus.

Responding to the shortage of PPEs at the testing center , the Northern Regional Health Director, Dr. John B. Eleeza, said a request has been made to the headquarters in Accra to supply them with PPE.

“ I have received a complain about the lack of PPEs and hopefully when we receive some from Accra we will give them out, ”he said.

Ghana cases so far

New figures released by the Ghana Health Service show that 97 more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

This brings to 5,735 the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus in the country. This was confirmed by the Ghana Health Service on Saturday, May 16, 2020.

One more person who tested positive for the virus has also died, bringing to 29 the total number of coronavirus related deaths in the country.

Meanwhile, 294 more persons have recovered from the disease bringing the number of recoveries to 1,754.

Regional Breakdown

• Greater Accra Region – 4,314
• Ashanti Region – 818
• Central Region – 210
• Eastern Region – 99
• Western Region – 98
• Western North Region – 57
• Volta Region – 34
• Northern Region – 31
• Upper East Region – 26
• Oti Region – 24
• Upper West Region – 21
• North East Region – 2
• Bono Region – 1