Dr. Frank Nyonator, GHS boss
OVER 4,000 CASES and 64 deaths have been recorded nationwide following the cholera outbreak that hit the country during the first quarter of the year, according to available statistics.
The Accra metropolis is said to be leading with 2,756 cases and 31deaths.
Dr. Simpson Anim Boateng, Public Health Director of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) told DAILY GUIDE Wednesday that although this year’s figures are far lower than last year, the fatality rates are unacceptable and called for rapid a response to reported cases and the tidying up public places.
Currently health officials in Accra have announced a significant decline in the outbreak but say with the onset of the rains, there are fears of possible fresh outbreaks unless residents continue to adhere to strict personal and environmental hygienic practices.
He said if the sanitation situation in the city returns to a deplorable state, it may trigger a massive outbreak of cholera and even other water borne diseases, attributing the decline to swift public response to the assembly’s by-laws on hygiene.
Dr Boateng pointed out the outbreak was caused by large volumes of filth coupled with perennial flooding and the sale of contaminated food in the capital.
According to him, had it not been the stringent measures put in place by the AMA and health officials to control the menace, the situation would have been gotten out of hand.
According to him, government has made available enough logistics and medicine to some selected hospitals and polytechnics to handle the epidemic.
He appealed to people infected by cholera to seek early treatment since it is free and stressed the need for people to adhere to the AMA sensitization exercise by observing personal and food hygiene.
Dr. Boateng also cautioned the general public to “avoid buying food exposed to flies and other unhygienic conditions and avoid buying food prepared and sold under unhygienic conditions.”
By Stella Danso Addai
