The 37 Military Hospital has announced the temporary closure of its Emergency Unit from Monday, August 4 to Wednesday, August 13, 2025, as part of routine efforts to maintain hygiene and safety standards at the facility.

A press release issued by the Department of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces explained that the move is intended to ensure a clean and safe environment for both patients and healthcare personnel.

“During the closure, Simango Ward will serve as the designated unit for all trauma and surgical emergency cases,” the statement clarified.

Authorities at the hospital have assured the public that adequate measures are in place to ensure continuity of care and minimise any potential inconvenience.

“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to assure the public that measures have been put in place to ensure continuity of care and minimise inconvenience,” the release said.

The military has also called on the public to cooperate during the period and reiterated its commitment to delivering safe and effective healthcare services.

Operated by the Ghana Armed Forces, the 37 Military Hospital is one of Ghana’s foremost referral medical facilities, serving both military personnel and civilians.

The Ghana AIDS Commission has expressed deep concern over a sharp increase in HIV infections among young people, particularly those between the ages of 15 and 24.

Recent data from the Commission indicates a troubling trend: many adolescents and young adults are prioritising the prevention of pregnancy over protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, July 22, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Prosper Akanbong, highlighted the rising preference for emergency contraceptives rather than condoms as a key driver of new infections.

“We are witnessing alarmingly high infection rates among the 15 to 24 age group. This progressive rise in HIV cases is very disturbing,” Dr. Akanbong stated.

He explained that many young people perceive pregnancy as a more immediate concern than contracting HIV, leading to a significant increase in the use of emergency contraceptive pills, while condom usage—which offers protection against both pregnancy and STIs—remains low.

“There’s a shift in priorities among young people. The fear of getting pregnant outweighs the fear of contracting infections, and that’s dangerous. Condom use is declining even as emergency contraceptives become more popular,” he lamented.

Dr. Akanbong called for urgent and intensified public education efforts to promote safe sex practices and dispel widespread misconceptions about HIV and reproductive health.

Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, has assured nurses and midwives that the government will improve their conditions of service as the economy stabilizes.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, June 22, 2025, Dr. Sandaare expressed confidence that President Mahama’s administration would provide additional incentives once the economy improves.

He acknowledged the vital role healthcare workers play, stating that the government is not ignoring their demands.

“Government is not saying that it is wrong to give them uniforms. Government is only saying that give us some time because their issues were not captured in the 2025 budget,” Dr. Sandaare explained. “But we know what motivated nurses and midwives can do in terms of delivering quality healthcare.”

He assured them that President John Dramani Mahama would go beyond supplying uniforms and offer more incentives if the economy picks up.

“That is why I believe that under his leadership, nurses and midwives will not leave this country. They will be excited and work in an enabling environment,” Sandaare added.

Nurses and midwives recently resumed work after going on strike to demand the implementation of their conditions of service agreed upon in May 2024. The strike, which began on June 2, 2025, led to the withdrawal of emergency services, significantly impacting healthcare delivery.

Following the intervention of the Parliamentary Health Committee, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) suspended the strike on June 13, 2025.

A final meeting between nurses, midwives, and the government is scheduled for June 26, 2025, to resolve the matter.