The Ministry of Information in partnership with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has provided a one-day training for the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs on COVID-19 safety protocols.
The training was held to sensitise the chiefs on the need to ensure their subjects adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols.
In his opening remarks, the President of Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese V commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for the proactive steps taken to prevent the virus.
The Chief Director for the Ministry of Information, Miss Mamle Andrews reiterated the need to continue adhering to the safety protocols since there is no cure.
Director of the Health Promotion division of Ghana health service, Dr. Da costa Aboagye stressed the need to end the stigma against persons infected with COVID-19.
“The current COVID-19 pandemic has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviours against people of certain ethnic backgrounds as well as infected people and their families and the impact is that it drives people to hide the illness, prevent them from seeking health care immediately, and also affects their mental health,” he said.
Dr. Da Costa added that “Majority of the COVID-19 deaths that we have recorded in this country came from co-morbidities, such as hypertension, stroke, diabetes, cancers, etc. So certainly, there is the need to step up education on these Non-Communicable Diseases.”
He urged chiefs and opinion leaders to provide leadership towards the fight against stigma and assist individuals who have been abandoned because they contracted the virus.
He also advised them to intervene in situations where tenants are being ejected because they contracted the virus.