Forty-eight persons who tested positive in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region cannot be traced for follow-ups.
Our correspondent Beatrice Spio-Garbrah reports that all persons have failed to avail themselves after their samples tested positive.
Ashanti Regional Health Director of Health, Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang, attributes the trend to the fear, stigma and discrimination attached to Covid-19.
Dr Tinkorang explained that persons who have contracted the virus refuse to own up to be placed in isolation.
“One of the major challenges the programme has been confronted with is fear and stigma,” he noted.
Some also refute claims of having their samples taken.
“Sometimes you identify a positive case you call and that same person will say I am somewhere.
“In Obuasi’s case, there are about 48 of them, you get in touch with them and some of them will say they are in the Western Region,” Dr Tinkorang noted.
The challenge of losing positive cases for follow-ups could impact negatively on the fight against the spread of the virus.
“We can address some of these challenges if we reduce fear and stigma because anytime fear sets in, people become apprehensive and don’t want to get into isolation.”
The health directorate is therefore entreating the public to shun stigmatization of Covid-19 patients.
On the current situation at Obuasi, Dr. Tinkorang announced that the peak period was in April as there has been a reduction in new infections.
The Obuasi municipality continues to be the epicentre in the Ashanti Region with 386 cases so far. Obuasi East has 206 and Kumasi Metro trailing with 83 cases.
The Region is the second highest in the country with a total of 918 cases with seven deaths.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana