Concerns requiring urgent attention

Almost everybody has heard of the siren of an ambulance at least once in his or her lifetime. What they may have not experienced, is the anguish of the patient if he or she is conscious or the apprehension of the close relation accompanying the patient, as to whether the patient will survive or not.

It is in such circumstances that the issue of traffic congestion in our cities is really felt; when you want to travel as quickly as possible to the hospital but the heavy traffic makes it impossible. The frustration alone can cause your blood pressure to hit the roof.

There are certain emergency medical conditions that require immediate professional medical attention or within the shortest possible time; otherwise, the likelihood of the victim or patient joining the group of departed souls is guaranteed. Countless incidents of dead on arrival are recorded at our various well known hospitals; not because of lack of professionals but simply due to the fact that there was delay in getting the victim to the hospital.

The attitude of some of our medical professionals is of serious concern and must be addressed as quickly as possible. They should be oriented such that they put their individual personal challenges aside and focus on the delivery of the service for which they are trained.

They get used to people dying on a daily basis so with time they get used to it and it somehow affects their perspective on how they should approach service delivery. When someone close to you dies, it gives you a different perspective on what death really looks like.

The recent needless death of a young man has resulted in the Health Minister directing the setting up of a commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. Apparently, the deceased was the brother of two sisters who were medical officers and the comments by one of them really hit me. Here is a sister who reports indicate that she is very dedicated to her job as a medical officer, only for his own brother to be treated in a manner that resulted in his untimely death.

Pavements being taken over by traders

Another concern that requires urgent attention is pavements being taken over by traders. Some months ago, I nearly hit a pedestrian with my vehicle along one of the roads in one of the suburbs of Accra. The streetlights were not functioning so that stretch was dark, and I did not see him until my vehicle passed very close to him and he screamed as he jumped aside.

Along that stretch, where pavements ought to be have been taken over by shop owners who have extended structures from the structure of their shops, so that pedestrians have no option but to walk along the edges of the roads and streets, competing with vehicles for space only meant for vehicles.

This situation is widespread and it denies people from doing jogging and brisk walking to improve their health for fear of being hurt by vehicles.

Call for urgent action

Urgent and concrete steps must be taken to address the challenges in the health sector, especially the issue of the attitude of health care providers in our hospitals. A deliberate effort at re-orientation must be embarked upon immediately to transform the negative perception that people have of health professionals, especially nurses. My personal experience many years ago when my wife went to deliver my firstborn, is still fresh in my mind.

The various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) across the country, especially in the peripheral municipalities in the Greater Accra region, should intensify efforts to address the issue of pavements being taken over by traders and shop owners that puts the lives of pedestrians at risk.

God bless.

BY LAUD KISSI-MENSAH

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