The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued some precautionary measures for the general public to adopt to prevent the spread of the cholera outbreak in the region.
A statement signed by the GHS Greater Accra Regional Director, Dr. Linda Van Otoo said the constant rains coupled with flooding in parts of the capital could trigger a possible outbreak of cholera and other diseases.
The measures among other things encouraged Ghanaians to wash their hands with soap and under running water before preparing food, and after visiting the toilet.
Members of the public have also been advised to wash plates and cooking bowls before use.
The Greater Accra Region has recorded five new cases of cholera last week.
In a related development, Deputy Minister of Health, Victor Bampoe has expressed governments readiness to battle a possible outbreak of cholera in the country.
He posted on his Facebook wall: “Government has already procured large quantities of fluids, giving sets, PPEs and other logistics to be distributed to the facilities that usually manage these cases.”
“Government is rehabilitating old wards (and in some cases, providing new ones) for any potential ‘overspill’ cases. DANIDA has provided significant funding for Ghana’s fight against cholera. WHO has provided 4.5 tones of ‘diarrheal kits’ – fluids, giving sets, antibiotics to be distributed to the facilities.”
“Many other donors like DFID, USAID, UNICEF and others are supporting us with significant contributions of logistics etc,” he added.
Dr. Bampoe also stated that other Ministries, Departments and Agencies are also playing their their part to avert the disease adding that “At the Inter-ministerial meeting on cholera which I chaired last week, we were informed that the Ministry of Local Government is working with UNICEF on a WASH campaign and has also tasked its assemblies to produce and implement ‘cholera plans.”
“NADMO and the Ministry of Water Resources are supplying potable water to areas without water in Accra, and the Ministry of Communications will soon intensify messages on how to prevent and avoid cholera. Let’s all do our bit to make cholera a thing of the past.”
Cholera outbreak in the country killed about 100 people in 2014 while over 11,000 persons were affected.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana