The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa, has urged Ghanaians not to lose their sense of community by shunning people who have recovered from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Stories of persons who have recovered from the disease, and being avoided by their own relatives, friends and communities keep on increasing in the country.
In April, 2020, in Tema, a man reported to have recovered from the disease was denied access from buying from some stores within his community after news broke out that he was once a victim of COVID-19 positive case.
This, together with some other reported cases, have become a concern to many, with health experts cautioning that stigmatization undermines efforts to fighting the virus.
In his 11th update address on measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus on Sunday, June 14, 2020, the Ghanaian Leader expressed worry about the stigma associated with the disease and urged the citizenry to gladly welcome all those who have recovered from the virus.
“I remained concerned about the stigma associated with this disease. Stories of persons who have recovered from this disease, and being shunned by their own relatives and communities, are a source of considerable worry to me, because they undermine our efforts to fight it. There is nothing shameful about testing positive. We do not have to lose our sense of community because of this pandemic”, he noted.
As at midnight of June 13, 2020, Ghana’s positive cases of COVID-19 cumulatively stood at 11,964, out of the 254,331 tests conducted. Recovery cases stood at 4,258 (that means people who remain still positive of COVID-19 stood at 7,652), with the positivity ration standing at 4.7%.
Thirteen (13) persons were reported to be severely ill with, six (6) persons said to be critically ill while three (3) persons are also said to be on ventilators. All these persons are being taken care of at the various hospitals and isolation centers.
Death rate stood, according to President Akufo-Addo, stood at 54 with the ratio of deaths to positive cases standing at 0.4%, compared to the global average of 5.5% and the African average of 2.6%.
“I am relating to these figures not to engender any false, feel-good factor, but as statements of fact that must provide the context for us, when we examine our figures. If, indeed, we are to be guided by the data, then we must look at the data in all its ramifications, not just one particular aspect of them. That is the proper way to do justice to the data”, noted the President in his address which was aired live on various television and radio stations across the country as well as on social media platforms.
