Members of the Coalition of Graduate Unemployed Allied Health professionals (COAHP) currently being used by the government for the nationwide COVID-19 contact tracing and testing services have withdrawn from the exercise effective today, April 13, 2020.
Last week, the Coalition threatened to discontinue the exercise and demanded permanent employment from the government.
They complained about the government’s discrimination in recruiting the 2017 batch of Nurses and Midwives while excluding the Allied Health Professionals of the same year group.
In a statement announcing the withdrawal, the body expressed the “neglect and unfair treatment been meted out to the coalition.
“The leadership of the Coalition of Graduate Unemployed Allied Health Professionals (COAHP 2017 and 2018 batch, wishes to inform the general public that, effective 13th April 2020, all members who volunteered to do contact tracing, sample taking and testing nationwide have withdrawn their services in the COVID-19 teams”, it noted.
Portions of the release added that “follow-ups were done to this effect and the Ministry of Health promised us that, latest by March, our financial clearance will be granted, we thereby could not fathom why only that of nurses was granted leaving out Allied Health Professionals”
The coalition which comprises 3, 797 members had 1,855 members engaged in the voluntary contact tracing and testing.
The coalition further cautioned members of the public over “persons who will disguise as Allied Health Professional to do contact tracing, sample taking and testing. Contact tracing, sample taking, testing and all public health activities are strictly the work of certified Allied Health Professionals.”
According to Forfie Abraham, Public Relations Officer speaking for the group on Rite Morning Ride’s Austin Addo said they will not change their mind until their needs are met.
Below is the copy of their statement
By Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org
