The Church Partners with Ghana Health to Provide COVID-19 Training

On the 30 January and 6 February 2021, the Greater Accra Division of the Ghana Medical Association partnered with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and provided COVOD-19 Pandemic Education.  The training was held in Accra at the Christiansborg Stake Center and lasted for approximately 2 hours each time.  The first week Dr. Mary Amoako Coleman represented the medical team and provided the training. The meeting was presided by President Flint Mensah of the Accra Ghana Keneshie Stake. The following week a similar presentation was given and was presided by President Dennis Ocansey of the Accra Ghana Christiansborg Stake. Those that attended the training were from Stakes, Wards and Districts throughout Ghana. Approximately 250 people attended the trainings.

The training started by giving an update of the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in Ghana from its introduction back in March of 2020 up to the present time.  The medical history overview consisted of previous coronaviruses such as SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2012.  The current COVID-19 being very contagious.  The exact dynamics of the virus transmission has yet to be determined but coughing, sneezing and contact with someone else that is infected increases the spread.  Those most at risk are those that are in close contact with live animals and people that work at the market.  Also those that are caring for the infected, which includes both family members and healthcare workers.  Because of this, everybody should take extreme care in following the healthcare protocols.

The symptoms may be mild, moderate, severe or critical, on asymptomatic.  These symptoms include fever, cough, difficulty breathing or respiratory distress, a loss of taste and or smell, headaches and body aches or pains. The following body systems can also be affected: kidneys, nervous system, liver and cardiovascular.

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. So stay home if you don’t have urgent business. If you have to leave your home, follow the safety protocols such as wearing a mask, social distancing, and always washing and/or sanitizing your hands.  Be consistent with the use of the face mask.

The government is always updating their requirements of what the general public needs to do.  Everybody was told to follow the laws and protect yourself. If you are not feeling well, do not go out and potentially expose anybody.

The training also covered how to prevent the spread at church, at school and in the workplace.  Overall everybody needs to do their best not to spread the disease by respecting others and following the guidelines.

After the training the participants were instructed to go back to the areas they represented, and train everybody.  We all need to do our part in slowing the transmission of this disease.