Dr Frank Ankobea, president of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed worry over the detection of the deadly Delta variant of Coronavirus in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Sunday 4 July announced that it has recorded 34 active cases of the deadly Delta variant of the Coronavirus disease in Ghanaian communities including some students of the Achimota School who tested positive.
Health experts say the Delta variant which originated from India, has higher transmission rate and spreads faster than other COVID-19 strains.
Speaking in an interview with Beatrice Adu on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday, Dr Ankobea called on government to strengthen surveillance at the country’s land borders.
“You see, what you should know is that yes, people will be vigilant, [but] try and prevent it from getting into the system. But one way or the other, some may slip through, we don’t even know where these ones came from.
“It could be through our land borders and not necessarily the airports and it’s a cause for us to strengthen our land borders and all those things with surveillance,” Dr Ankobea said.
Demand for PPE
In a related development, the GMA president wants government to provide health workers with more personal protective equipment (PPE) to effectively contain the spread of the virus.
“We are worried that such a thing has happened, we know that the Delta variant is more contagious, it spreads faster.
“All we are going to do is that we still need the PPE and all other things for any surge or any wave that happens, … we are getting ready to meet the challenges as and when they come,” he said.
Dr Ankobea further called on all stakeholders to step up education on COVID-19 protocols to help avoid any third wave in the country.
Fred Dzakpata
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