By Erica Apeatua Addo
Tarkwa (W/R), Dec. 15, GNA – The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Health Directorate in the Western Region has recorded fifty suspected cholera cases with three deaths.
Fourteen persons are currently on admission at various health facilities in the municipality.
Addressing the media in Tarkwa, Mrs Wilhelmina Tiwaah Duah Morttey, Municipal Director of Health Services, Tarkwa Nsuaem, said all those who died arrived at the hospital very late, and were dehydrated.
She appealed to the public to wash their hands regularly, avoid eating contaminated food and water, and more importantly seek medical attention immediately if they have diarrhea.
Mrs Morttey announced a ban on the sale of vegetables by food vendors in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, stressing that it was necessary to protect the health of consumers.
“We will be having communal rehydration point within Tarkwa at certain vantage points such that anyone who will need ORS can immediately get it within the community where they are”.
She assured residents that the directorate was doing everything possible to contain the outbreak and prevent further deaths, adding, “our hard-working health personnel are aiding to contain the outbreak and provide medical care to those affected.”
Mrs Morttey entreated commercial drivers who might transport suspected cholera patients to the hospital not to be in a hurry to leave the facility because their vehicles must be disinfected to prevent the disease from spreading.
“If our drivers decide not to transport our sick clients to the hospital because of the little time they will spend there, then everybody will be at risk”
Mrs Morttey encouraged communities to organize regular clean up exercises by weeding their surroundings, sweeping the streets, and desilting chocked drains with trash among others to help prevent diseases like cholera which is now on the rise in the Municipality.
Mr Alex Damtey, Municipal Environmental Health Officer, explained that his office and Ghana Health Service would collaborate and educate the public and food vendors as on the ban.
He said after the sensitization, from Monday December 16, 2024, environmental officers working across all the zonal councils in the municipality would visit food joints to enforce the directive.
“Any food vendor who refuses to adhere to the ban would be put before court in accordance with the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851 to serve as a deterrent to the general public” Mr Damtey warned.
Earlier, The Western Regional Coordinating Council through a communique, announced an immediate ban on the sale of vegetables by food vendors in the region.
This was after an environmental surveillance investigation revealed that 96 per cent of infections were linked to food vendors, particularly through the sale of contaminated vegetables such as salads, leaves and green peppers
As of December 7, 2024, a total of 789 suspected cases and eight deaths have been recorded across various facilities in the Western Region.
GNA