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| At the press briefing |
By: Akpabli Daniel Yao/IGNews/VR/Ho
As part of the preparedness and responds to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Authorities of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in the Volta Region, have organized a Press conference to brief the Media on the current state of the University and the Ho Teaching hospital (Trafalgar) as Ghana so far recorded 6 confirmed cases of the virus (COVID-19).
UHAS has also denied claims of the Ho teaching hospital recording one case of the Coronavirus in the facility.
According to the Authorities, the press conference is crucial at the moment when tensions and rumors regarding the pandemic in and around the regional capital, Ho, is going higher therefore, the need to engage the media to assist in the awareness creation campaign as well as reporting responsibly and accurately on any issue.
They said, the engagement will also help them to use the media to prevent the spread of rumor which mostly caused fear and panic among the citizenry concerning the COVID-19.
As part of measures put in place to contain and help address the issues of any case in the Teaching hospital, Dr Emilie Boakye Yiadom, a Laboratory Physician and Micro Biologist at Ho Teaching Hospital and a lecturer, UHAS, said, a separate laboratory is created for isolating suspected cases where they use for testing.
“we currently have an isolated facility which can take care of four and plans to expand this facility to take inn more people are underway” she explained
She assured the media of the preparedness of the facility to contain the pandemic should any of the case surface because the institution is having the needed Human resource to overcome any incident of such.
she also noted that, three of their medical staff are currently at Accra, participating in an ongoing national training as she is optimistic that, the three will come back well equipped to impart the other staff in the facilities to warm up against any unfortunate incident should any occur.
She said as the Teaching Hospital and the UHAS target their immediate environment (Ho Municipality) in the awareness campaign drive, the Region is also doing some with the larger focus group.
Director of Public affairs, UHAS, Madam Maria Gwira said the University has developed a campaign program on the theme “SAY NO TO CORONAVIRUS IN HO, know how to protect yourself” targeted at Educational institutions, Traditional Authorities and among others.
She said plans are advanced in creation of material in a form of flyers and posters design with educational inscriptions as well as the use of the various Radio and television as a means to intensify publicity to sensitize the citizenry.
She also urged the media to join the campaign and also hold various stakeholders accountable for the benefit of all.
She asked the media to visit their official website which was specifically created for information on the pandemic, disseminate the special Hotline and ambulance hotlines for the citizens to access for quick respond.
She further called on the general public to be vigilant and help with information whenever they detect any symptom on themselves and any other person in their societies.
The Ghana Journalist Association Volta regional Chairman, Mr. A.B Kanyi on his part, charged the media to be circumspect in their reportage as well as sustaining the campaign on the COVID-19 pandemic.
He further advised colleague journalists to be safety conscious as he noted that, they must live to report the story.