Berekum (B/R), May 08, GNA – The Bono Region has recorded its first confirmed case of the COVID-19, Dr. Bedima Duut, the Berekum Municipal Director of Health Services has disclosed.
Dr. Duut said this at Berekum when he received several health items valued at Gh¢23,147.00 from the Berekum Traditional Council to be shared among the Berekum Municipal and Berekum West District Health Directorates.
The Items, including hand sanitizers, hand gloves, gun thermometers, veronica buckets, methylated spirits, and tissue papers are meant to be distributed to the Berekum Holy Family Catholic Hospital, Happy Hospital, a private health facility at Berekum and all health facilities under the two Directorates to help in the fight against the COVID-19.
He said the patient was one of 10 Togolese who were recently arrested by the Ghana Immigration Officers at Sampa in the Jaman North District for using an unapproved route to enter into the country from La Cote d’Ivoire.
They were detained by the Police at Sampa for interrogation and later processed for a Circuit Court at Berekum where they were remanded into Police custody.
Dr. Duut said their blood samples were taken by health officers for testing, saying, the patient had tested positive when the result was brought
He said about 45 persons needed to be contact traced for their blood samples to be taken for testing because they had come into contact with the COVID-19 patient.
They included officials from the Circuit Court and security officers who escorted the patient to and fro the court for prosecution, Dr. Duut added.
He announced that the Berekum Circuit Court had been closed down since about 20 of its officials came in contact with the COVID-19 patient during the prosecution
Dr. Duut thanked the traditional council for their support to promote quality health care and urged others to emulate that gesture since the government alone could not provide adequately for the health sector.
Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo, the Paramount Chief of Berekum Traditional Area said the donation was the contribution of the Traditional Council in support of the government as well as other corporate institutions and organisations to stop the spread of the COVID-19.
He appealed to residents of Berekum to adhere to the social and physical distancing protocols and other measures to protect themselves and others from being infected by the COVID-19.
GNA