The Bono Region has recorded 89 Covid-19 related deaths as of November 2, 2021.

According to the Regional Health Director, Dr. Kofi Amo-Kodieh, 2,111 cases have been recorded within the same period.

He attributes the high figures to the people not taking the pandemic seriously enough.

"At first they thought the disease was only in the bigger cities, then they said the government wants to get the money that is why the proclamation of covid in Ghana, and a whole lot of unfounded stories".

To the extent that, Dr. Amo-Kodieh said if people lose their life, some health workers were attacked for their refusal to release the dead body to the family.

He spoke ahead of the inauguration of the High Dependency Unit (HDU) treatment center for Covid-19 patients at Berekum Holy family hospital in the Berekum Municipality.

The 10-bed Unit was refurbished and equipped by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and CHAG's (Christian Health Association of Ghana) Covid-19 Response and Institutional Capacity Building (CRIB) Project, funded by the UKAid.

The Berekum HDU, stocked with equipment, including a monitor, perfusor, Ventilator, Oxygen concentrator, and Pneumatic compression device, adds to the two in Bawku in the Upper East region and Akwatia in the Eastern Region under the CRIB project.

Dr. Amo-Kodieh also noted the recovery rate of 93.7% is low and a case fatality of 6.3% is unacceptable compared to other regions, a situation he admits requires more work to improve the figures.

Because of that, he expressed gratitude to the development partners, especially UKAid for the HDU, which is strategically located, because the regional directorate found it difficult to manage the severe covid-19 due to lack of equipment and personnel training.

In her welcome address, the Administrator of the Berekum Holy Family Hospital, Rev. Reena V. John, revealed that 25 out of 528 staff contracted the Covid-19 virus but recovered within a short period.

She attributed the result to the knowledge and practice of Covid-19 protocols and guidelines among the staff due to the training received as part of the CHAG/CRIG project and the high volume of Personal Protective Equipment, drugs, equipment, and other consumables from all stakeholders.

She further said the PCR machine, Antigen Kits, and Antibody testing, among others, the CRIB project provided also made the covid case management effective at the referral center since they now could diagnose, isolate and manage cases without delay of test results from other labs.

Rev. Reena V. John also explained that out of the 813 PCR tests, 232 Antigen tests and 120 Antibody tests conducted in their HeFRA accredited testing center in Berekum, they have had to manage 29 very severe patients at the treatment center with 18 recoveries, 3 referrals to higher centers, and also recorded 8 mortalities due to covid-19.

CHAG, with funding support from the FCDO, through the CRIB project, she said, came to their rescue by equipping the treatment center with Ventilators, monitors, and other accessories to manage complicated covid cases.

Dr. Paa Gyasi Hagan, the Physician Specialist, and Clinical Coordinator at the Holy Family Hospital expressed relief that they can now manage cases referred to them from the rural areas effectively at the HDU.

He, however, advised that the populace go for the covid-19 vaccination and follow the protocols.

"The fact you are vaccinated does not entirely protect you from contracting the disease but if you follow the protocols, wear your musk, social distance, wash your hand frequently under running water, you will succeed at preventing yourself from getting the disease".