Authorities at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital have urged the citizenry to desist from stigmatising people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and the frontline health workers.

At a press briefing on Thursday, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, said should such acts persist, patients will be reluctant to divulge information about their health history.

Thus, impeding the efforts of government and frontline workers in combating the disease.

“This is very worrying because when it happens that way we won’t get the cooperation of the contacts of the confirmed patients.

“Covid-19 is only dangerous when you do not adhere to the precautionary measures and you do not observe the social distancing,” he said.

Dr Tenkorang then called on the media to support health personnel and government, to educate the general public about the infectious coronavirus.

Director of Nursing at KATH, Georgina Efua Sam, was worried that public stigmatisation of personnel who may contract the coronavirus in their line of duty, could discourage them from giving their best when at work.

She, therefore, admonished citizens against discrimination and called for unconditional support and encouragement for the personnel.

 “The important thing that the public must understand is how the disease spreads and how to protect yourself from it so please do not stigmatise health workers and their families.”

The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr Oheneba Owusu Danso, on his part, cautioned pastors to refrain from telling their congregants to solely look up to God for protection but also advise them on the protocols to observe to avoid getting infected.

He indicated that comments by some of these preachers frustrate the efforts of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, ensure that the pandemic is contained.

“Some men of God have been trooping to radio stations to preach to the public in a very defiant and negative manner and that does not help the course of Ghana at all.

“Without any scientific basis, we have all forms of preachers who are making claims of denial of the disease’s existence [and must stop],” he warned.