Northern Regional Health Director, Dr John Bertson Aleeza has appealed to government to speed up the process of furnishing the Tamale Public Reference Laboratory, so that it can carry out Covid-19 testing in the northern part of the country.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnite, Dr Aleeza indicated that, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) which tests samples from the northern part of the country including the Ashanti Region, has become overwhelmed.
“When we had initial cases they [KCCR] were not under too much pressure so within 10 hours of sending a sample, you receive the results.
“But lately we are facing the challenge of having to wait a few days before we get the results, which makes the patients and their relatives very restless,” he stated.
The Regional Health Director also highlighted the economic impact of not having an easily accessible testing centre.
According to him, samples of suspected Covid-19 cases are transported by vehicle which takes at least five hours to reach KCCR and the cost of fuel drains the coffers of the health service.
“At times, a car will move in the morning with a number of samples and later within that very day another vehicle has to move because, we have enough samples and we do not want to be keeping them here,” he narrated.
He then noted that the establishment of a testing centre at Tamale, will be the most convenient method of testing the infectious virus within the region and its neighbouring regions.
“When our laboratory starts operating then we will put in efforts to test as many as possible because, we won’t have to travel long distances and join a queue elsewhere and we will be able to identify people who are infecting others.”
Latest Stories
-
Kumasi Cheshire Home decries inadequate equipment; seeks public support
10 mins -
UCL: Niclas Fullkrug hands Dortmund first leg advange over PSG
30 mins -
GPL: Accra Lions beat Hearts of Oak to go third
2 hours -
Seek higher grounds as rains intensify – GMet warns
2 hours -
May Day: Sam Ankrah promises to prioritise welfare and well-being of workers if elected president
2 hours -
Bawumia plans door-to-door campaign for 2024 polls
3 hours -
GAF condemns ‘unprovoked’ fatal shooting of soldier in Kasoa land dispute
3 hours -
OSP’s request for money laundering probe against Cecilia Dapaah baseless – AG advises EOCO
3 hours -
Obofour Raphael releases ‘Asem Yi Di Ka’ EP
3 hours -
‘Operation Clean Your Surroundings’: Popular Kenkey joint and public toilets in Takoradi shut down
4 hours -
GFA boss Kurt Okraku graces Dreams FC’s dinner to celebrate CAF Confederation Cup exploits
4 hours -
We’ve intensified efforts to combat misinformation, hate speech ahead of elections- Akufo-Addo
4 hours -
Sekondi-Takoradi: STMA/Joy News’ ‘Operation Clean Your Surroundings’ taskforce arrest 10 for open defecation
5 hours -
Joy Prime’s Prime Morning celebrates May Day with gallant Officers of Ghana Navy
5 hours -
YAWC Network Ghana chapter holds National summit in Accra
5 hours