Nurses And Midwives Should Be Courageous To Face Ebola

A Public Health Specialist Physician, Dr Kwame Amponsa-Achiano has urged nurses and midwives to be courageous to face the daunting task of nursing at a time that their services would be most required by all. He said health providers are encouraged not to be scared of the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) as it cannot be easily contracted unless one comes into direct contact with any form of bodily fluid from an infected person. Dr Amponsa-Achiano made the comments when he addressed a national workshop in Accra in which about one hundred Nursing and Midwifery Managers were educated on the Ebola Viral Disease. The workshop was a way of complementing efforts by the Ministry of Health�s and Ghana Health Service in terms of Nursing and Midwifery preparedness in case of an outbreak in the country. This is why the observance of strict precautionary measures in nursing and midwifery practices are crucial to preventing the contraction of Ebola and other contagious disease at the hospital setting, said Dr Amponsa-Achiano. He cautioned health workers against raising false alarm and spreading negative rumours of suspected Ebola cases, �as these things have a potential of creating serious panic within health facilities and has the tendency of fuelling the spread of the EVD, should there be an outbreak�. Mr Amponsa-Achiano said the provision of right information was therefore crucial to eliminate the current state of fear and uncertainty among health professionals on the disease and they would in turn help in sustaining the campaign on the fight against the spread of EVD and also create a relaxed working atmosphere for quality health service delivery. He said although documented records have cited health workers, particularly nurses as unfortunate victims in the disease prone countries, quality information on the presentation of the disease, symptoms and management, should enable them to manage any Ebola patient. He urged all health facilities, to first of all, isolate the patient in a holding room when they encounter a suspected case and call the focal person within the facility to take the sample for laboratory investigations. He said while this was being done the proper protective wears must be used while nursing the patient to help ease their pain and discomfort other than leaving the patient to fend for themselves. Mr Amponsah-Achiano also appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage since negative publications could fuel existing fear among the citizenry. Mr George Kumi Kyeremeh, Chief of Nursing and Midwifery Officer commended his colleagues for their hard work, sacrifice and commitment to quality health service delivery. He said cholera outbreak in the country since July this year has put a lot of pressure on health workers and facilities in the midst of their scarce resources. He however commended government�s commitment to address the challenges by releasing funding to finance essential components of preparedness activities to combat Ebola should it be detected in Ghana.