Ghana is currently grappling with a cholera outbreak that has raised serious concerns among health officials and communities across the country.
So far, 16 deaths have been reported, with 115 confirmed cases spread across four regions: Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, and Western regions.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is urging the reintroduction of COVID-19 hygiene protocols to help curb the spread of cholera.
Deputy Director of Disease Surveillance, Public Health Division of the GHS, Dr Dennis Laryea says these deaths could be prevented if people seek early treatment at medical facilities.
“Our concerns have had to do with the death. The numbers yes but quite a number of them were brought in dead, which means they were delayed in seeking care. About seven or eight of them were brought in dead. The majority of the others spent less than 12 to 24 hours on admission. That meant that we had little time to make a difference. Their kidneys may have stopped functioning due to dehydration. We have seen some changes in some of the districts. Once you start developing symptoms; vomiting, watery diarrhoea, get to the health facility,” he stated.
Adding “The factors that will drive the outbreak haven’t left us. The personal hygiene and the food handling situation are still there. If people don’t wash their hands with soap and water before eating, wash their fruit and vegetables well with clean water because if the water is dirty, it can result in cholera infection. The bacteria are in the environment so once we are not handling our waste appropriately, then the risk of the disease spreading is high.”
Channel One News visited Osu in the Korley Klottey Municipality, one of the affected communities in the Greater Accra Region where residents shared their struggles with sanitation.
“One critical issue affecting this community is the inconsistent supply of tap water, which has significantly worsened our sanitation problems. We are appealing to the relevant authorities to ensure a steady flow of water to this area to help reduce the spread of cholera,” a resident lamented.
“We don’t have consistent water supply for domestic use, even for basic needs like cleaning our toilets. Additionally, the refuse dumb area is in a deplorable condition, which could breed cholera, especially since children play around and food is exposed to flies. We are appealing to the authorities to address the water supply and improve the sanitation conditions”, another resident appealed.
“The Osu Beach has become a breeding place for mosquitoes. The authorities are doing nothing about it. We are urging the authorities to save the situation,” stated another resident.
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