Details have emerged about last ditch attempts to save the life of one of Ghana’s foremost and finest surgeons as he battled the dreaded coronavirus which has now killed eight.
Dr Jacob Plange-Rhule needed potentially life-saving drug found nowhere in the country, presidential advisor on health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare revealed.
Physicians and Surgeons College Rector dies from coronavirus
They could get some in Kenya, an east African country that is also fighting coronavirus with more than 180 cases.
In a Newsfile interview, monitored by theghanareport.com, Dr. Nsiah-Asare explained, the drug is called Actemra and is used in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
He further explained, research from China showed the drug could be administered to coronavirus patients before the disease got to an inflammatory stage.
Off flew Ghana’s presidential jet, heading to Kenya in a frantic flight to get drugs in the fight for the doctor’s life.
The plane arrived Friday evening. Dr. Plange-Rhule died Friday morning.
Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare said he was at the airport to take the drugs.
Long before the drugs could make it to the doctor’s bedside, the rector of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Jacob Plange-Rhule had died.
Averagely, it takes close to six hours to make the more than 4,408km trip to Kenya.
The rector becomes the first Ghanaian doctor to lose his life in the battle against coronavirus.
The former President of the Ghana Medical Association died on Friday at the University of Ghana Medical Center at Legon in Accra, where he has been on admission.
The sources said he was admitted to the intensive care unit of the facility, after he was transferred from a private facility.
Although he was reported to have significantly recovered, he was said to have relapsed on Friday before shedding the mortal coil.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK in intensive care for coronavirus
So so sad. Kenya of course. Invest invest and invest in the right areas. Cathedral not our priority
America and other G20 nations have invested in research more than expected but they’re dying in 1000s.
Oh! Say it again
Do you know America’s population? Stop dreaming bro
If Americans are dying after investing in the health , you’ve justified the building of the cathedral than the health sector I guess . Oh my people , we will continue to suffer !!
Sometime the doctor cannot cure himself.
May his soul rest in peace.
Aww
May his gentle soul rest in peace!!!
But why did he need a special drug?? Does it mean others who have contracted the virus don’t matter??? Govt must stop being selective . This is not the time for favoritism and nepotism at all.
Emma he had a special condition that the other might not had …rheumatoid arthritis that made the need for the drug key. It’s not about favoritism
The doctor wasn’t suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (at least that wasn’t specified), neither was the underlying health condition aside from Covid-19 mentioned. Rather, the decision to get that particular drug (which has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) was based on research that it had actually been determined to be effective in the treatment of Covid-19. Read the ff: “In a Newsfile interview, monitored by theghanareport.com, Dr. Nsiah-Asare explained, the drug is called Actemra and is used in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
He further explained, research from China showed the drug could be administered to coronavirus patients before the disease got to an inflammatory stage”.
May his soul rest in peace
O.k if the new UGMC is ‘lender of last resort’ and well equipped research medical centre why kept him in private clinic till it got worse..?Folks,it is time we concentrate on public health sector!!
In healthcare there are wages and the care too there are levels it doesn’t matter if it’s private or public if those facilities are accredited then there’s no problem. Both sectors need equal attention!!!
Stages *
Ghanaians are totally joking, with all the one hundred million dollars to fight this pandemic yet drugs for the fight is not at stock. God save Ghana from wicked leaders.
WOW! 😮, the media doesn’t really do their homework, does the man on the right look anything like the late professor down there in the. Rather the man up there is an honorable board chairman Dr. Yao Yeboah of the Ghana Health service, is this who thing is plotted by his political opponent, Kwaku Agyeman Menu 😂, so weak for a Minister of Health
My Brother I second to what you’re saying, should we make this deadly virus be surrounded around politics, NO!!!!. Our media men and women do your job well, you can’t be posting a Headline of a different person who isn’t the main person in the story.
Let’s fight COVID-19 together and stop this backbiting.
Prof, Rest in Perfect Peace.
Nigerians are far more than our population but I don’t understand how we have run ahead of them with covid19 reported cases. I believe we individuals are not doing our work well.
We should stay in homes and stop the spread.