The Ghana Health Service (GHS) recently confirmed a cholera case in Ada West District, Greater Accra, on October 4, after an individual experienced vomiting and diarrhea following a funeral attendance in Ada East.
This incident prompted an investigation and subsequently, Ada East District also reported confirmed cholera cases.
By October 11, the GHS confirmed nine cases in both Ada West and East Districts.
“The Ghana Health Service confirmed a case of cholera in the Ada West District of Greater Accra region on 4th October 2024. The person presented to the health facility with vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain a couple of days after attending a funeral in Ada East. Subsequently, Ada East District also reported confirmed cases of cholera. As of 11th October, nine cholera cases had been confirmed in both districts (Ada West and Ada East),” the GHS said in a statement on Monday.
The GHS assured that it has swiftly initiated some response activities including contact identification, tracing and follow-up, and formation of committees at different levels.
“Following the notification, the public health response activities undertaken include: • Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMCs) at all levels (National, Regional and Districts) have been activated.
“A joint multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Team (PHERRT) from the national, regional and district levels, as well as representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Environmental Health Units from the two affected districts has been activated.”
The GHS also assured of an ongoing outbreak investigation and environmental assessment.
“The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with the relevant sectors and partners, assured the public of its continuous effort to promptly detect and respond early to public health emergencies,” it added.