COVID-19 has heightened anxiety among health workers but we are hopeful of winning the fight – Knii Lante

Dr. Nii Lante, known in showbiz circles as “Knii Lante“ is one of Ghana’s medical doctors who doubles as a Musician. With a music career creeping over a decade and more, the doctor has always used his voice as a tool to engage and educate unlicensed on health issues and socio-economic concerns.

Knii Lante’s loud call for the State to robins ambulances for the country in a song he did with Blakk Rasta could also be ticked as one of the successes that added to other calls for Government to secure over 270 modern ambulances for the country.

The recent global pandemic, “Corona Virus”, saw the doctor adding his voice to some key concerns such as pushing for Research Facilities to be build and equipped by Government.

BeenieWords.com had the opportunity to interview Knii Lante about COVID-19 and this was what he had to say.

Questions:
1. How has it been for you working in these times with such a pandemic? Your experiences, fears, findings?

RESPONSE: Well I’ve still been running my specialist clinics. You constantly have it in mind that every patient you see with a fever and airway disease symptoms could be a COVID-19 case and then since you’re not in the specialized PPE at that time, anything can happen (ie) you could contract the disease. Even people without symptoms can also innocently pass on the disease to you as you examine and treat them for something completely unrelated. There is so much increased anxiety among health care workers, even those who are not on the COVID-19 wards so you can imagine the state of mind of those who are. And that is exactly why I wrote the song “Humanity” (which has just been released a few days ago) to appreciate and encourage the collective of healthcare workers who are facing life threatening danger each day in the frontlines ….In other words, to thank the heroic frontline doctors and nurses for their sacrifices on the frontline in an often thankless job.

2. I’ve noticed most Ghanaians don’t even know their own medical history, and many are prone to even diseases beyond corona virus bcos their immune system is weak or lack some needed body nutrients. What do you have to say about this please?

RESPONSE: A large chunk of Ghanaians live in deprivation and poverty. Indeed the majority of people living in most countries in the world are the have-nots. They cannot afford to attend and often don’t have easy access to health facilities. How would they know their medical histories? Weak immune systems could be a function of poor nutrition and frequent illness. I’m generally disappointed in how we have neglected the poor. We must as citizens and governments deliberately and seriously focus on alleviating the living conditions, food security and affordability and accessibility to healthcare for all our people. Only then will we have majority of our people being healthy, having strong immune systems and having update knowledge of our health statuses.

3. Even beyond COVID-19 what would you advise citizens to do to keep safe from future occurrences?

RESPONSE: Citizens must no doubt be constantly educated on and encouraged to observe good sanitary practices in every day life ….regular hand washing, covering your mouth when coughing, avoiding overcrowding are all necessary practices to avoid transmission of contagious diseases. That means citizens must have easy access to clean running water and other public services as well as good housing. Governments must prioritize preventive health care and then hopefully we could have some measure of protection.

Thanks, one love, and let’s keep encouraging our Frontliners with the song … “Humanity” . Keep sharing .