By Daniel Agbesi Latsu
Kadjebi (O/R), Jan 6, GNA – The inhabitants in the Kadjebi District are complaining about intermittent power outages referred to as “Dumsor” in the area lately.
They described the “Dumsor” as disruptive and an affront to their daily lives and are calling for an end to the outages.
On Saturday, January 4, power went off at 2000 hours and was restored around 1100hour on Sunday, January 5 and again went off at 1900hours and restored at 2200hours same day.
Ms. Justine Korkor Amegatse, 45-year-old fishmonger and resident of Kadjebi, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the frequent power outage had negative impact on her economic activities as fishes got spoilt, refrigerator and other electrical appliances not being.
She said the “Dumsor” has also inconvenienced and discomforted her households as they have to sleep without fan.
Ms. Amegatse therefore called on the authorities to fix the problem.
Mr. Agyei Kingsley Kyeremeh, Physician Assistant, and in-charge of the Dodo-Amanfrom Health Centre, told the GNA that “The power outage is very distasteful to our service delivery since it poses a great threat to the safety of patients, healthcare workers, cold chain medications and medical equipment alike.”
“As we are talking now, my facility has three broken down vaccine fridges and our two Autoclaves for sterilisation of instruments are damaged due to “Dumsor”, he said.
Mr. Kyeremeh said their cold chain drugs, especially vaccines are to be kept under specific temperatures and that power outage could affect regulated fridge temperature and thus, the potency of the cold chain drugs.
The Physician Assistant said in procedures like venipunctures, suturing, birth deliveries, incisions, among others where stable lights are needed the most, blinking light or total darkness sometimes is what they get.
“I remember sustaining a needle prick during suturing one dark night. That is an easy way for cross infection between the bleeding injured patient and me. Such a risk”, he lamented.
“Dumsor must stop”, he said.
Nana Amanano Mensah II, Regent of Dodi Traditional Area, engaging with the GNA, said the power outage has increased stress and anxiety for them.
He asked the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to give prior information the public before the power outage.
Nana Amanano, also the Chief of Poase-Cement community, said this would enable the electricity consuming public to get prepared and that anything short of that was not good.
Attempts to solicit a response from the provider have not been positive.
GNA