Environmental Health Officers (EHO) have kicked against government’s decision to exclude them from benefitting various incentives available to frontline health workers.

During a media briefing, the Acting Greater Accra Environmental Director, Douglas Tagoe indicated that the group plays a vital role in managing the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

He noted that according the World Health Organisation (WHO), persons who die of the virus must be buried with the supervision of an environmental officer, hence members risk getting infected as well and must be insured.

“We call on the Health Minister to expand his list of health workers he has given to the Finance Minister to include environmental health officers because we are considered as frontline workers as well.

“So President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Health Minister must not to forget us in the provision of motivational packages since we are health workers attached to the local government service.”

The Acting Regional Director also said the group is yet to receive the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to carry out their mandate.

Stressing that the Environmental Health Officers have been neglected, Mr Tagoe called for the immediate support of the group to encourage them to collectively help curb the virus.

“It is sad that after the President has asked us [EHO] to remain and work as those who provide environmental health and sanitation services we were not on the rewarding or motivating platform.

“Due to the neglect of this force, Covid-19 bodies are still lying in the morgue of certain hospitals, whereas WHO has stated that that Covid-19 bodies should be buried not later than 72 hours,” he said.