Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana: a report from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi

Pan Afr Med J. 2020 Dec 9;37(Suppl 1):43. doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.37.43.25749. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has stretched the resources of health facilities but there is a lack of context-specific reports across Africa. Since February, 2020, the university hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a district-level institution, has been at the forefront in contributing to efforts in Ghana to fight the global pandemic. As of 16th August, 2020, 1755 individual samples have been taken at the hospital for COVID-19 out of which 629 (35.8%) tested positive, 414 (65.9%) recoveries and 6 (0.95%) deaths. The hospital's out-patient attendance has reduced by almost 50% with attendant loss of revenue. Here in, we present a report on our activities, highlight lessons and recommendations that other health facilities can glean from.

Keywords: COVID-19; Ghana; Kumasi; university hospital.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Ghana
  • Hospitals, University / organization & administration*
  • Humans