Eastern Region records 1,024 cholera cases

The Eastern Region recorded 1,024 cholera cases from July to September this year with four deaths.

Nsawam- Adoagri Municipality recorded the highest of 309 cases followed by the West Akyem Municipality with 255 cases.

Mr Mukaila Diwura, the Regional Surveillance Officer, revealed this at the Eastern Regional Annual Health forum organized by the Regional branch of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs (GCNH) in Health in Koforidua.

The forum was under the Theme: The fight against the outbreak of Cholera and Ebola and their emerging issues and avoidance in the Eastern region; the Role of Civil Society Organization’s (CSO’s)”.

Mr Diwura said the region was susceptible to outbreak of Cholera because of its inability to manage solid waste, conservancy system of night soil disposal facilities and poor environmental sanitation among others.

Mr James Mensah Boamah, the Regional Chairman of GCNH, in his welcoming address, said the purpose of the forum was to contribute to the fight against the wide spread of cholera in some districts in area.

He noted that the region had been confronted with the outbreak of cholera cases since July but little was done to curb the situation.

“This means that we have poor sanitation environment and contaminated water supply”, he said.

Mr Boamah appealed to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the supply of Oral Cholera Vaccines, which he said had worked perfectly in some countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Vietnam.

He said though there was no case of the Ebola disease in Ghana, he questioned “how prepared are we to prevent it.”.

“In fact it is very critical for you and me to understand the risks in both human to human transmission and from wildlife so that we can be in a better position to make an informed decision ourselves”.

Mr Boamah indicated that the public need adequate and accurate information to empower them to reduce the fear and the myths associated with the Ebola disease.

“We as CSOs are prepared to mobilize the community members for sensitization and education to avoid the further spread of cholera and as well prevent Ebola in Ghana”.