A medical officer at the Pantang Hospital has disclosed the abuse of drugs among some health workers.
Dr. Kwesi Antwi Koranteng, who revealed this, lamented that officials have adopted measures and strategies aimed at addressing the issue since it is a serious health challenge.
He told Kwabena Agyapong, host of Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, that some health workers are addicted to drugs.
He specifically mentioned pain medication as one of the drugs being abused by some health workers.
“One other problem we are confronted with is the abuse of drugs by health workers.We have health workers who are also addicted to drugs.
That is why I said we were sitting on a time bomb. In a recent case, a nurse spread false information that her husband was not taking good care of her, and as a result, the workers always paid money to help her. Later, when the matter was investigated, it was discovered that her husband had purchased a car for her and was taking good care of her. She was spending the money her spouse had given her to buy drugs. She also utilised her car to secure her drugs. Some of them abuse the post-operation drugs, and it gives a certain feeling but is dangerous to abuse.”
Dr. Kwesi Antwi Koranteng claimed that although the number involved was not alarming, it was a challenge that ought to be addressed.
“The number involved is not large, but the reality about avise among health workers exists, and management in certain of our health facilities always reassigns individuals involved.
“We have discovered this problem, and we have a comprehensive plan to address it. We have recommended some health workers to rehabilitation, and they have recovered. However, it is still a challenge that we must confront. Friends and family members may lack knowledge of drug usage and hence fail to grasp why someone continues to consume drugs. The truth is that this is a brain disease. Addiction is a brain illness that requires treatment.
He stated that because of the abuse, accountability extends from the pharmacy to the storage facilities, and that if there is a shortage, an alarm would be raised and an investigation will be launched. So it’s not like nothing is being done.
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By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
