The Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has warned that his ministry will take stringent action against anyone who abuses health professionals.

In a Facebook post on Friday, June 5, he noted that the measure is to safeguard health professionals and enable them work effectively.

According to him, healthcare professionals dedicate their lives to serving patients and communities, therefore, they must be respected and protected.

“The Ministry of Health strongly condemns all forms of violence against health workers and calls on the public to respect and protect healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to serving patients and communities”.

“It is worthy of note that violence, intimidation, and abuse against healthcare professionals are unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” it added.

His comment is a reaction to an incident which occurred at the Community 22 Polyclinic on Tuesday June 2, where amidwife was abused by a relative of a patient.

The health worker was reportedly attacked while enforcing visiting hours at the facility. Health workers in recent times have been abused at their posts.

Last year, a nurse at Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital)took her abuser, activist Ralph Saint Williams, to court for physical assault and defamation.

The plaintiff sought GH¢5 million in damages for injuries and GH¢2 million for defamation, arguing that the defendant’s words have “cast the Plaintiff as a liar, a non-trustworthy person, and a crook”.

Per the writ filed at the High Court in Accra on August 22, the defendant, leading a group of men, allegedly stormed the facility, demanding immediate treatment for an injured finger while medical staff were attending to critically ill patients, including one with an open fracture.

When staff requested he obtain a hospital card, the defendant reportedly became aggressive and began recording patients and staff without consent. The plaintiff indicated that despite providing him with initial first aid, the defendant later returned with a group of men and physically assaulted her.

“The Defendant, without provocation, struck the Plaintiff's left hand with a clenched fist and a metallic cellphone,” the writ states.

Following the incident, the defendant during a live video accused Rejoice of being a liar.

“Liar, Wo se wo nsam abu. Duab0 bebam. You say you have suffered an injured hand and a dislocated shoulder. This is cooked up to cover the nonsense going on at the hospital," he said.