Huge cholera drug deficit

There is a huge gap in medical supplies needed to fight cholera across the country.

The situation is dire following a resurgence of cholera outbreak in parts of Accra after the June 3, 2015 floods.

The gap occurred after the fire that engulfed the Central Medical Stores of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) last January.

Documents available to The Finder reveal that the GHS and the Ministry of Health conducted a nationwide audit after the fire and found emergency product gaps which are frightening.

The audit established that the total cost of the Central Medical Stores disaster is GH¢356.1 million (GH¢356,154,008.28) far higher than GH¢237m.

The gaps indentified include Erythromycin Tablet, 250mg-204,999 pieces; Cholera Replacement Fluid Injection, (5:4:1) 1000ml-82,000; Cholera Replacement Fluid Injection, (5:4: 1) 500ml-1,800,000; Giving Set, I-V Solution Disposable for Adult-252,000; Ringer's Lactate LV, 1000ml-1,200,000; Sodium Chloride LV, 0.9% (500ml)-1,200,000; Dextrose 5%, 500mL-600,000; Hand Sanitizer-I50,000; Erythromycin suspension -90,000; Gloves Exam MIS-3,600,000 and Gloves Exam LIS-3,000,000.

Others are Gloves Surgical 7.5-77,000; Gloves Surgical 8.0-38,160; Syringes + needle 5ml-3,000,000; Doxycyline Cap 100mg-116,799; Tetracycline Caps 250mg-97, 500; Cefuroxime Axetil Tablet, 250mg-96,153; Cefuroxime Axetil Tablet, 500mg-118, 503; Cefurozime Injection 1.5g-1,200; Cefuroxime Injections 750mg-6,000; Cotton Wool 500g-180,000; Scalp Vein-assorted sizes-30; Intravenous Cannulae-assorted sizes-80,000; N/G Tube Adults( disposable)-4,000; N/G Tube Paediatrics-4,000; Izal (gls) (5liters)-300; Sodium Hypochlorite (5 litres)-300.

The rest are Chlorine Tabs(Aqua Tabs)-60,000; Methylated Spirit 100mIs-60; Adhesive Tapes 10 rolls-50; Syringes, assorted size (with needles)-150,000; Examination Gloves Medium & large-1,000,000; Rubber Sanitary gloves-10,000; Cotton wool 200g-50,000; Carry Blair Medium 500g-12; TCBS Agar 500g-12; Cholera diagnostic sera:Ogawa-12; Cholera diagnostic sera:Inaba-12; Cholera Diagnostic sera Polyvalent-12; Cholera Diagnostic Antisera (Bengal 0139)-4; and Peptone Water 100mIs-12-Sterile Swabs (Boxes)-600.

As of last week, eight new cases of cholera had been reported in three districts in the Greater Accra Region.

Four of the cases were reported from Adabraka Down, near Circle, one of the areas hit by the recent flooding of the capital; and one from Ablekuma sub-metro in the Accra Metropolis.

The other two cases were reported from the La Nkwantanang Municipality. No death has, however, been recorded.

This brings the total number of cholera cases as of June 13, 2015 to 601 cases with five deaths.

The cases countrywide were reported from 31 districts in eight regions with a case fatality rate of 0.8%.

From June 8 to 13, 2015, there was an upsurge of cases reported in the country from zero case in the two previous weeks to eight cases with no death.

The upsurge has been attributed to the massive flooding in the Accra Metropolis that happened on June 3, 2015.

Last year, a nationwide outbreak of cholera recorded a total of 28,975 cases, out of which 243 deaths were recorded.

The outbreaks were registered from 130 out of the 216 districts of the country.

In 2015, a total of 601 cases have so far been recorded with five deaths from 31 districts in eight regions.

Out of the number, eight of the cases were recorded in Accra between June 3 and June 13 this year.