Source: Ben LARYEA
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Prof John Gyapong has sounded a note of caution to the citizenry that in spite of the vaccination against COVID-19 people must still observe the necessary protocols and should not let their guards down.
“Out of the 32 million doses of the vaccines, 42 percent of the citizenry have had their first dose as 27 percent are vaccinated” he said.
Participants at the event
He has therefore called on stakeholders in the COVID-19 value chain to roll out initiatives to strengthen and scale up measures to curb the spread of the virus in the country.
According to him, government must put in place the needed structures to enhance the current health systems, create a robust pandemic preparedness and sensitise the population on the need to be vaccinated.
Professor John Gyapong was speaking at a public lecture titled “COVID, is Ghana out of the Woods?” organised by the Central University in Accra.
Present were Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the health sector, health professionals, academia, researchers, lecturers and students.
He said government must initiate steps to address challenges associated with the virus and build strong linkages with health institutions to protect the citizenry against the disease.
He mentioned countries such as United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia with higher vaccination exercises yet the said countries are experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and was quick to advice health authorities to intensify the campaign on the emergence of the new global wave.
Prof. Gyapong again mentioned omicron and other related virus of the COVID-19 and said it has spread to many countries with thousands of new cases early this year and however urged the relevant health institutions to scale up its pandemic preparedness.
He hinted that in the wake of the pandemic Ghanaians were challenged to adapt other methods of fighting the disease and explained that people were able to develop and produce face masks, sanitizers and the awareness creation of washing hands under running water and social distancing.
“Government interventions in the wake of the pandemic such as closure of borders, partial lockdowns, free utilities and the financial support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) also help in addressing the challenges associated with the COVID-19”, Prof. Gyapong added.
