About three hundred (300) frontline health works at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have been honored by the State for their various outstanding contributions to the country in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. President Nana Akufo-Addo instituted the National Awards to honor individuals, institutions and partners who distinguished themselves in the fight against the global pandemic.
The exercise covers about 19, 557 frontline health workers across the country who have received certificates and plagues for their dedicated service to the nation in their line duty.
Persons in other key sectors such as the civil service, security services, education, public health, agriculture, scientific and other research groups, commerce and industry and the judiciary among others have been honored as well for their significant roles.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, who did the presentation on behalf of the President said the gesture is to show the appreciation of the Government and people of Ghana to the health workers for the invaluable sacrifices they made which cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
“These certificates are life time achievements and are special. Indeed, their values go beyond the paper that you see and the recipients should see themselves as privileged persons. Generation to come will remember you and children yet unborn will one day see these certificates and remember you for your contributions” he said.
The Minister emphasized that there is dignity in serving your nation and that Health workers are very important in our national architecture.
He added health is supreme and life is priceless and explained it is exactly the reason why President Nana Akufo-Addo at the peak of the pandemic had to lead the country to make a lot of sacrifices during the strike of the pandemic in the country.
Mr. Shani noted Ghana was among the few countries in the world that recorded relatively low deaths and reiterated this is attributable to these men and women who made sacrifices and even put their lives at risk in their various duties to save the lives of others during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Minister used the opportunity to call on the staff to be motivated by the awards to do more for the Tamale Teaching Hospital in order to redeem the image of the facility.
He said the public impression [verifiable or not verifiable] about the premier hospital calls for an objective and realistic introspection.
“So much has been said on radio and in various publications, in the markets and in offices about this Hospital. Some are not verifiable but we cannot discount all of them. And even for those that are not verifiable, we need to improve our communication for those who raise them to understand our position. But it calls for objective and realistic introspection” he implored.
Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu intimated the over 300 awardees can make a change in the Hospital and maintained the spirit they exercised during the fight against COVID-19 should be used to support towards the effective functioning of this facility.
