A meeting of the leadership of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana (N&MC) was held on March 24, 2020, to strategise towards combating the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
The meeting, which was convened by the Governing Board of the N&MC, was to encourage nurses and midwives, who form about 70% of Ghana’s health workforce, as they brave the odds to confront the Coronavirus pandemic.
The event was attended by the three principal officers of The Church of Pentecost, namely Apostle Eric Nyamekye (Chairman), Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi (General Secretary) and Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo (International Missions Director). Also present was the then Deputy Health Minister, Hon. Alex Kodwo Abban.
Addressing the health workers on the topic: “What To Do & What Not To Do In Times Like These As Frontliners,” Apostle Nyamekye said that the rate of the spread of COVID-19 is a cause for concern for all, especially for health officials who are at the frontlines. “This is perhaps the greatest medical challenge of our lifetime, and in critical times like these our hope comes from above,” he said.
Referring to the story of Gideon in Judges chapter 6, the Chairman explained how the Israelites were handed over to the Midianites by the Lord due to their disobedience. The Israelites, therefore, hid in caves because of fear. After several years of oppression, the people of Israel cried unto the Lord and He decided to go to their rescue through a young man called Gideon.
Apostle Nyamekye called on health professionals to glean some lessons from what ensued when Gideon received an angelic visitation. According to him, in such devastating times, some people cannot help but question the existence of God and whether He is still with them.
He pointed out that, when the angel urged Gideon to advance and lead the Israelites to battle against the Midianites, he was hesitant, because he felt inadequate being the least in a family that belonged to the weakest clan of Manasseh. The Chairman, therefore, advised that, as frontliners, health workers should desist from complaining about the inadequate resources they may have and rather focus on doing the best with the little they have, trusting that the Lord will go with them and supply their needs.
Touching on what to do as frontliners, the Chairman advised health professionals to adopt the strategy of Joab, when the Israelites went out in battle against the Arameans and the Ammonites as recorded at 2 Samuel 10:9-13.
He explained that when Joab, the commander of the Israeli troops, realised that they were surrounded by the Ammonites on each side of the battle, he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans, whilst he put the rest under the command of his brother, Abishai, and deployed them against the Ammonites.
“Joab then said to Abishai, ‘If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight,’” he stated.
Apostle Nyamekye urged the health workers to employ the same tactic by collaborating and standing bravely together in the fight against the pandemic. He, therefore, called on all health professionals to gird their loins and be prepared to provide the needed medical support whenever they are called upon.
He assured them that, although they may be at the frontlines, the church is solidly backing them in prayers.