The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives’ Association has said four of its members have died of COVID-19. 

This was revealed in a statement issued by the association and co-signed by its President, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo and its General Secretary, David Tekorang-Twum on Tuesday, 19 January, 2020.

The GRNMA revealed that: “At the peak of the first wave in July, 2020, eight hundred and forty (840) nurses and midwives had been infected and two deaths had been recorded. The death toll now stands at four (4) with the recent demise of Mr Solomon Nsor, a Senior Staff Nurse who worked at War Memorial Hospital in the Kasena Nankana Municipality of Upper East Region.”

The association further disclosed that quite a number of nurses have been infected with the virus currently.

“A number of the staff currently infected with the virus are nurses and midwives and there is therefore the need to test all staff at the hospital and proper measures put in place to quarantine and treat those infected. Contact tracing should also be initiated to identify those infected for treatment,” the statement noted.

The GRNMA also called on government to as a matter of urgency “boost the stock of PPE for distribution to facilities at all levels to enhance the safety of health professionals.”

With regards to the payment of COVID-19 insurance premium as part of the incentive for frontline workers by government, the GRNMA urged government to ensure that the payment is fast-tracked.

“Payment of the insurance premium for those who were infected with the virus, those who fell critically ill and those who died during the first wave should be fast-tracked to serve as motivation for those on the field fighting the pandemic,” the statement added.