A committee to investigate the death of a suspected COVID-19 patient

The Western Regional Health Authority of the Ghana Health Service tasked a five-member committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the escape and death of a patient at the COVID-19 treatment center in Effia Nkwanta regional hospital.

Dr Yaw Ofori Yeboah, regional director of the Ghana Health Service, told the Ghanaian News Agency that the committee’s mandate would be to check the patient’s clinical condition at the time of admission, determine the circumstances surrounding leads to escape and subsequent death.

Further references would include a recommendation to management on measures to be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.

The members of the committee are, Dr Atsu Dodor, Deputy Director of Clinical Care as Chairman, Ms Daphine Kemmeh, Deputy Director at RCC as Secretary, Captain Rtd Hansen Obu, Regional Safety Coordinator, Dr George Peprah , Acting Medical Superintendent at Takoradi Hospital and Mr. Micheal Danso, Deputy Head of Administration at Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

Dr Yeboah pleaded with them to work diligently with people, especially the family of the deceased, to enable them to pass judgment on the matter.

The Committee has one week to submit its findings and recommendations to Management for appropriate decision and action on the matter.

Dr Yeboah said, “Management is confident in your ability to excel at this exercise and will provide you with the support you need to be successful.”

It should be remembered that Mr. Paulus Okine, 55, who was admitted to the COVID-19 isolation center died shortly after leaving the center denying that he did not have the disease.

His body was found some 250 meters from the facility on Thursday, August 19, 2021.