Over 100 patients who went to seek treatment at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital on Monday July 10 were left dejected as striking staff of the facility abandoned them due to an ongoing sit-down strike.
The staff are using the strike as a protest against encroachment on lands surrounding the health post by private developers.
According to the staff, several efforts by them and the management to ward off encroachers have proved futile.
They said the activities of the encroachers have compromised security at the hospital and put the lives of health practitioners and patients at risk.
Speaking to Class News, head of staff at the hospital, Elvis Akuamoah, said they would hit the streets if the problem is not addressed by Wednesday 12 July.
“We are in a hospital where we are taking care of vulnerable people, persons with mental disorders who are seeking healthcare. If what is going on is not checked, very soon you might not even have a pathway to the hospital,” he stated.
“As staff, we have sought audience with our management and we’ve been engaging them. And all they’ve been giving us are copious copies of correspondence of letters they have written back and forth to every stakeholder you can think of and yet nothing is happening. There is rapid development of the land at the hospital so we are embarking on a sit-down strike. Monday we will come to work but we will not work and see whether the needed attention will come from those who are supposed to act. On Wednesday, we are embarking on a demonstration and thereafter stay away from work until this matter is resolved.”
Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com
