Cholera kills 7 in Central Region

A total of seven deaths out of 47 confirmed cases of cholera have been recorded in the Central Region.

The number of suspected cases in the region according to the Regional Health Directorate as of yesterday was 720.

Briefing the media in Cape Coast, the acting Central Regional Health Director, Dr Agnes Achi­amaa Anane, explained that, eight districts had recorded confirmed cases of cholera in the region.

The districts with the confirmed cases, she indicated, are Cape Coast, Awutu Senya, Awutu Senya East, Gomoa East, Mfantseman, Hemang Lower Denkyira, Effutu and Agona West.

She also mentioned that four districts: Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), Assin South, Assin North and Gomoa Central had suspected cholera cases which were yet to be con­firmed.

She explained that four of the deaths involved those who were brought to the various health facilities already dead.

Dr Anane noted that the situation was very alarming as there was a possibility of some of the suspected cases turning out positive.

She, therefore, underscored the need for residents to adhere to good sanitation and hygiene practices at all times.

She also called on Ghanaians to revisit the washing of hands with soap under running water as was done to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

She further reiterated the need for people experiencing diar­rhoea to seek immediate care at the nearest health facility.

“People should not die as a result of cholera since it can be treated,” she said.

Dr Anane appealed to the media to support efforts by the health directorate in sensitising residents and Ghanaians in general towards adopting measures that would stop the spread of the disease.

To that end, she urged radio stations to institute programmes and also support the playing of jingles aimed at supporting efforts at curbing the spread of cholera.

The Central Regional Health Promotion Manager, Mathew Ah­wireng for his part, expressed con­cern about the practice of open defecation among some communi­ties within the Central Region.

He, therefore, called for a halt in such practices since they contributed towards the outbreak of certain infections such as cholera.

He stated that the Regional Health Directorate and other stakeholders were working tire­lessly to eliminate cholera in the region.

Other stakeholders and mem­bers of the Central Region Risk Communication committees under the health directorate at the programme, called for collabora­tive efforts towards addressing the problem.

They called for the intensifica­tion of clean-up exercises as well as the enforcement of by-laws of the various assemblies on sanita­tion