By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, May 19, GNA – The Health Promotion Unit of the Northern Regional Health Directorate has held a stakeholder forum to develop strategies for preventing a potential cholera outbreak in the region.
The forum, which brought together representatives from the Regional Environmental Health Department, selected media personnel, Management of the Health Promotion Unit amongst others, was tailored towards mobilising media and stakeholder support on advocacy and awareness creation on the disease.
It was also to encourage responsible reportage by the media to intensify advocacy on cholera prevention.
Dr Chrysantus Kubio, Northern Regional Director of Health, speaking during the forum in Tamale, urged the media to avoid causing fear and panic over the recent cholera alert.
He said it was important for the media to focus on public education regarding the causes, effects, and preventive measures of the disease.
He said the region had not recorded any cholera cases to date and emphasised the need for continued public education to maintain the region’s zero-case status.
Mrs Patience Boahen, Health Promotion Manager, Health Promotion Division in Accra, echoed similar concerns warning against complacency and emphasised the importance of proactive measures to avoid being caught off guard by a potential outbreak.
She identified open defecation as a major contributor to cholera transmission and called for a collective behaviourial shift to discourage the practice.
She said, “Nationally, we are already seeing high rates of open defecation. This puts us at greater risk of cholera if immediate action is not taken to change this trend.”
She highlighted the essential role of community-level stakeholders in promoting sanitation and hygiene and called on the media to support efforts to raise public awareness about the dangers of cholera.
Dr Takyi Duayeden, Deputy Director of Clinical Care at the Northern Regional Health Directorate, encouraged members of the public to promptly report any suspected cholera cases to health facilities for immediate medical attention.
Participants, during the forum, expressed their readiness to intensify advocacy and increase awareness on the disease to ensure safer and healthier communities.
GNA
Eric K. Amoh/Christian Akorlie