Ghana is a Cholera Endemic Country, Deputy Health Minister Declares (News Brief)

Spread of cholera in Ghana, photo courtesy of myjoyonline(HN, March 22, 2011) -- Deputy Health Minister Rojo Mettle Nunoo says the government in Ghana is rolling out a comprehensive strategy to fight the spread of cholera in the country.

The Ghana Health Service says over 4,000 cholera cases with 61 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak of the epidemic in the latter part of 2010.

Officials of the Disease Surveillance Unit at the Ghana Health Service say the situation is worrying and needs urgent attention.

Cholera cases reported at various health facilities across the country particularly in the Accra Metropolis keeps increasing by the day.

Speaking to Joy News the Deputy Health Minister said Ghana has over the years been known to be a cholera endemic country, owing largely to the attitudinal and lifestyle of some Ghanaians.

He said the recent outbreak was triggered by the early rains, adding, the Interior Ministry in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organization is tracking the cholera endemic areas in the country to provide the needed health support.

The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Joseph Amankwa says poor sanitary conditions coupled with the non-adherence to personal hygiene practices are contributory factors to the outbreak.

“Some of the shell fish, and sea foods are some of the causes of cholera. If you pick sea food that is contaminated and not properly prepared you will get cholera.

"People are disposing waste anyhow on main roads, highways and close to rivers. The waste is supposed to be dumped at landfill sites but where are the landfill sites in Accra and other districts?

"We don’t have them and until we address that, it is going to be a major problem for us and every year we are going to have cholera,” he cautioned.

The Ghana Health Service has set up receptive centers at various clinics in the Accra metropolis to deal with the increasing cases.

Deputy Health Minister Rojo Mettle Nunoo says his outfit will embark on a comprehensive education and media outreach program to inform people on the incidence of cholera, the mode of transmission and its prevention.

- HUMNews staff