By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Ada, Mar 08, GNA – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has recommended that behavioural barriers to cholera prevention should be addressed through regular hygiene promotion campaigns targeting schools, marketplaces, and households.
This was contained in a recent survey report on Population Mobility Mapping for Cholera Response of the IOM, Ghana Mission, available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
It noted that behaviour change programmes should also be implemented to encourage the consistent use of sanitation facilities and proper handwashing practices, particularly in high-risk communities.
The organisation further recommended that improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities; enhancing community capacity and resilience; and strengthening health service delivery must be added to the promotion of behavioural change to reduce cholera risks and enhance resilience across the Ada East District.
The IOM, in its survey, which focused on 10 communities that were affected by the cholera outbreak in the Ada East District in September 2024, claiming two lives, indicated that these interventions would prioritise the most vulnerable communities, ensuring that resources are effectively utilised to achieve long-term impact.
It added that recommendations were based on the findings of the survey, noting that there was widespread reliance on unimproved sanitation facilities and highlighting the critical need for improved toilet infrastructure across the communities.
The IOM stated that there were critical gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, recommending that efforts be made to rehabilitate or establish safe water supply systems in high-risk communities such as Azizanya, Pute, and Totopey.
“Household-level water treatment practices, including the distribution of water purification tablets (aqua tabs), should also be prioritised. Furthermore, public, and private toilet facilities should be constructed and maintained to eliminate open defecation, particularly in communities like Pute, which exhibit significant sanitation challenges.”
It also emphasised the importance of encouraging frequent hand washing in these communities.
“To improve access to healthcare and mitigate cholera risks, additional healthcare facilities should be established in underserved and hard-to-reach communities. Health workers should be trained in cholera case management, community surveillance, and prompt response mechanisms,” the report stated.
According to the IOM, community awareness campaigns should be launched to educate residents on cholera prevention practices, such as handwashing, food safety, and early reporting and treatment of symptoms.
It further recommended that building local capacity was essential for sustainable cholera control, urging that community leaders should be actively involved in the planning and implementation of interventions to foster ownership and accountability.
“For communities with high population mobility, such as Kasseh, Azizanya, and Pute, resources such as sanitation facilities at transit hubs should be provided. Emergency preparedness measures, including the establishment of rapid response teams and stockpiling of cholera treatment supplies, should also be strengthened.”
GNA
LS/KOA