District hospitals expected to treat cholera for free – Health Director

District hospitals in the Greater Accra Region are to treat patients diagnosed of cholera for free at the various cholera bays set up, the region’s deputy director of public health has told TV3.

However, most of these district hospitals continue to refer cases to the Adabraka Polyclinic, a situation that is generating worry, according to Dr John Eleeza.

“We don’t want them to continue referring them from other places,” Dr Eleeza said.

“They should manage them at their own facilities.”

He noted that the reason why the Polyclinic has managed the situation is that patients are discharged immediately, after dehydration and medication.

"They don’t stay long," he said. "That’s what has enabled us to contain those that have come here."

Dr Eleeza stated, however, that a cholera patient that is diagnosed of other ailments will be treated of that ailment at a cost.

The Adabraka Polyclinic has recorded a sharp increase in cholera cases in recent weeks, a situation Dr Eleeza attributes to environmental habits by the public.

Dr Eleeza, therefore, advised Ghanaians especially residents of Nima, Agbogbloshie, Circle and Adabraka to observe good sanitary practices. So far, 156 cases have been recorded in the Region this month with 80 cases in the Osu Doku sub-metro.