By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, July 17, GNA – The Western Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has engaged key stakeholders to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to prevent cholera outbreak within their communities.
The engagement, held in Takoradi, with support from the West Africa Health Organisation, formed part of the GHS post-flooding cholera preparedness and response activities aimed at strengthening community awareness and promoting preventive measures against the disease outbreak.
It brought together representatives from Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), food vendors association, Protoa Transport Union, media practitioners, and officials from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan and Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assemblies.
It sought to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to educate the public on cholera prevention, early detection, prompt reporting and appropriate response measures to help reduce the risk of cholera transmission and safeguard public health.
Dr Serwah Amoah, Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, after the event told journalists that the engagement was part of interventions by health authorities to bring together influential people to train them on cholera preventive mechanisms for onwards sensitisation in their communities to guard against the possible outbreak of the disease.
She said: “Before the onset of the rains, there were plans to see how best we will not be hard-hit again with the cholera situation we faced as a region some time back, so this is part of the interventions to arm ourselves with adequate information as health workers and community members to be able to prevent possible cholera outbreak.”
She asked participants to educate their community members to adhere to the GHS cholera preventive protocols, including regular hand washing with soap under running water, and cleaning their surroundings at all times.
Dr Amoah also asked them to visit the nearest health facility when they experienced any cholera symptoms like vomiting, and severe diarrhoea among others.
She urged the media practitioners to use their platforms to support health officials to sensitise the public on the guidelines to prevent possible cholera outbreak in the region.
Participants at the event took turns to seek clarifications on some misconceptions, and pledged their commitment to impart the knowledge they had acquired to other members in their communities to help keep the region free of cholera.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/George-Ramsey Benamba
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson