GHS advocates united front against cholera outbreak

By Isaac Arkoh

Cape Coast, Feb. 4, GNA – Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has called on stakeholders to unite in efforts to combat the perennial cholera outbreak in the country.

Speaking at a day’s stakeholders’ engagement in Cape Coast on eradicating cholera, Prof Akoriyea said cholera was primarily caused by the bacterium often transmitted through contaminated water or food.

He said the bacteria could enter the body when someone consumed water or food that had been tainted with faeces from an infected person.

“The disease is common in areas lacking proper sanitation and clean drinking water, where human waste can pollute water supplies and food sources demanding a collective responsibility to stop its recurrence.

“It therefore behoves on all stakeholders to come aboard. GHS alone cannot deal with it so traditional and religious organisations, institutions and agencies and the public must all adhere to the precautionary measures to halt the disease,” Prof Akoriyea said.

Whilst calling for regular hand washing and increased personal hygiene, he urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting to seek immediate medical attention.

Giving update of the state-of cholera outbreak in the region, Dr Agnes Anane, the Acting Regional Director of the GHS revealed that 14 people have died from the cholera resurgence since Thursday, October 31, 2024.

Of the total deaths recorded as of Monday, February 3, eight representing 57.17 are males whilst six representing 42.85 are females.

She said four of the deaths are children below 10 years, three are between 10-20 years and seven are above 20 years.

“The Central Region confirmed its first case on October 31, 2024, and since then the numbers have increased. Currently, our cumulative suspected case stands in 2047 while cumulative confirmed cases stand at 189. The Cumulative number of contacts identified is 4426.

“The total contacts who have completed five-day follow-up by GHS procedure is pegged at 4078. The cumulative confirmed cases from contact are 17, while the cumulative confirmed death toll for the region is 14,” Dr Anane said.

According to her, excluding Upper Denkyira East and Assin South, all the other 20 districts in the region have had confirmed cases of cholera infections since the outbreak resurgence.

However, Dr Anane said, four districts, including Awutu Senya, Assin North, Upper Denkyira West and Agona East did not have any cholera cases as of Monday, February 3, 2025.

She outlined several measures being implemented by the GHS to remedy the situation including the activation of a Public Health Emergency Management Committee and the deployment of rapid response teams to affected areas.

She stressed the importance of public education on hygiene practices and safe drinking water to prevent further spread of the disease.

“As a stopgap measure health professionals will be going out to sensitise students and market women on the need to be aware of the situation and what to do when they encounter such a situation,” she said.

In a short message, Dr Atto Quansah, the Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, lamented how the disease outbreak had been deepened by limited water supply in parts of the region.

He identified climate change and human activities, particularly road construction and pipe cuts as some of the reasons affecting water supply.

GNA