The President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Frank Serebour, has sounded the alarm over the increasing insecurity in Bawku.
According to him, some doctors are fleeing the area, while others are refusing new postings due to the conflict.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Dr Serebour explained that the ongoing conflict has created an atmosphere of fear, leading many medical professionals to leave, while others simply refuse to accept postings in Bawku.
“Some doctors are fleeing, while others are refusing postings due to the escalating insecurity in Bawku,” he said.
“A few of them have decided to leave and are now in Accra and Kumasi, refusing to return to Bawku.”
The situation has made it difficult for health administrators to maintain order or enforce discipline.
Dr Serebour pointed out that even those in managerial roles are unable to hold staff accountable due to fear of retaliation from armed groups.
“There are some of them in administrative roles who are unable to enforce discipline,” Dr Serebour explained.
“If a health worker doesn’t report to work and you try to take disciplinary action, the next day your photograph is circulated, and you’re threatened — told that if you’re not careful, you’ll be the next target,” he added.
Dr Serebour revealed that the threat has become very real for some doctors, with reports of doctors’ homes being attacked.
“Some doctors’ houses have been raided and riddled with bullets. They’ve had to request police protection. It’s not easy at all,” he said.
The deteriorating security situation in Bawku has made it an increasingly unattractive destination for healthcare workers.
Once a place that attracted doctors, even amid the challenges of working in the northern regions, Bawku is now considered too dangerous for many.
“In the past, Bawku was one of the places that attracted doctors, even when others were hesitant to work in the northern regions,” Dr Serebour noted.
“But recently, nobody wants to accept postings to Bawku. Those who are there are leaving, and the few who remain are working under constant fear.”He stated.
In light of the mounting threats, Dr Serebour has called on the Minister of Health to take immediate action to protect healthcare workers. He has recommended relocating those at risk to safer areas, away from the escalating conflict in Bawku.
“I called the Minister recently and told him we need to move some of our colleagues who feel their lives are at risk out of the danger zone and send them to safer locations,” he said.
Dr Serebour concluded by warning that the ongoing violence is already having a devastating effect on healthcare services in Bawku.
“Healthcare is indeed being affected because of the conflict going on in Bawku,” he concluded.
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