70 staffs of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) have benefited from a three-day trainer of trainer’s workshop in covid-19 case management held in Larteh from the 8th to 11th of September 2020.
The workshop was organized by the Christian Health Association of Ghana in collaboration with the National COVID-19 case management team, the Ghana Health Service, with financial support from the Federal Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
Participants who were drawn from some 40 districts across the country were taken through relevant topics such as infection prevention control, screening and triaging, surveillance and contact tracing, health worker safety, cordination and team dynamics, psychosocial support, case management of mild, moderate and sever cases, home based care, and burial of the dead.
Opening the workshop, Dr Duah, deputy executive director of CHAG disclosed that, the training forms part of CHAG’s COVID-19 response and institutional building (CRIB) project, for continuous provision of basic health services at the district level amidst the covid-19 pandemic.
“this forms part of our efforts through the CRIB project funded by the FCDO, to assist the national response to covid-19 by expanding testing, case management and contact tracing to the district, sub-district and community levels using 40 CHAG facilities that act as district hospitals and are designated as COVID-19 treatment centres across the country”, he explained
“We are involving additional 1,600 facilities which will be strengthened to undertake screening and triaging with 400 CHPS zones supported to undertake case findings and surveillance. We are taking opportunity of this situation to equally strengthen health systems for church-based facilities to become more resilient to respond to existing and emerging health conditions” Dr Duah intoned
Facilitators of the training praised CHAG for its expedient initiative, describing it as a worthy national priority.
Member of the national covid-19 case management team and Infectious disease specialist, Dr Joseph Oliver Commey, mentioned, it was the right time to heighten surveillance and ensure care for persons with covid-19 is prompt at community level to avoid any complications. “At national level; our approach has been to effectively manage all mild to moderate cases timely and effectively, this has helped us to reduce the burden of severe cases, that is why it is important that we get treatment at the very communities the infections may be spreading. This will make treatment readily available for all”
Dr Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, an emergency physician specialist, and also a member of the national covid-19 management team added that, without a proper attitude towards work, the skill and knowledge earned may not be useful. “ It is important that to acknowledge the effort of each member of the case management team, but also remember to also put the patient first” He underscored.
Participants expressed high optimism and appreciation to CHAG for the effort. ” It’s been very insightful, as soon as we return, we are going to involve all our sub districts and together develop an overall plan to contain the spread, and attend to those affected by the coronavirus disease. I will want to thank the donors, facilitators and CHAG for helping us step us up to the challenge, we are grateful” Rev Francis Oteng Dumfeh, administrator of St Luke Catholic Hospital in Apam, acknowledged.
COVID-19 Ghana situation
Since first recording two new cases of covid-19 in March 2020, Ghana has since recorded more than 45,000 cases with 300 deaths.
About the CRIB Project
COVID-19 response and institutional capacity building for the continuous provision of basic health services at the district level (CRIB).
The program seeks to build capacity of CHAG to assist/complement government’s effort to maintain the delivery of essential healthcare services across the continuum of care, and avoid the risk of outbreak of other communicable and preventable diseases, delays in seeking care and poorer quality of care; while at the same time responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. CHAG will work with its facilities (especially 40 facilities that are designated as district hospitals), GHS and private facilities in 40 districts.
The DFID funded CRIB programme is expected to:
1. Increase access to quality COVID-19 services at the district level
2. Increase interactions with Ghana Health Services and community health
systems at the district level
3. Institutional capacity of CHAG developed
4. Essential health services delivery is sustained at all levels
PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
**Observe social distancing; Avoid handshaking
**Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
**Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, dispose the tissue in a closed bin, and then wash your hands.
**Always wear a mask, particularly when leaving home
**Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
**Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces such as remote controls and doorknobs.
**Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
**Call the designated health line(s) in your district for necessary assistance or support if you develop fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. You can also call any of the following toll-free numbers for assistance: 112, 0509497700 & 0558439868
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE TOT WORKSHOP HELD IN LARTEH.
