Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) says it has suspended non-emergency surgical cases due to a surge in COVID-19 infection among its staff.
A Deputy Director of Medical Affairs said in a memo that majority of the staff at the surgical areas are currently self-isolating.
The memo indicated that the suspension will be in force for two weeks.
“There has been a recent surge of COVID-19 infections among staff working in the Surgical areas. This has necessitated self-isolation of majority of these staff. Hence a decision has been taken to suspend all urgent cases for two (2) weeks. All emergency cases will continue as before,” the memo said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Affairs at the facility, Mustapha Salifu in a statement says the suspension of non-emergency services will afford the hospital the chance to reorganize itself “for the resumption of regular services.”
He added in his statement that the hospital will for the next two weeks attend to “only dire emergencies.”
“We therefore request sister health facilities to refer only dire surgical emergencies (Surgery, ENT, Maxillofacial and Obstetrics) to Korle Bu during the suspension period. Other parts of the Hospital are still in full operation,” he noted in his statement.
Over 120 doctors test positive for COVID-19
Many Ghanaian health workers have contracted COVID-19 as the virus continues to overwhelm the country’s already fragile health system.
The Ghana Medical Association has blamed the threat on lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the continuous neglect by government.
Ghana has so far reported over 20,000 COVID-19 cases with 129 deaths.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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