Reports that cholera patients must bring their own beds are false - Effia Nkwanta Hospital

The Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital has refuted claims that patients with Cholera are being requested to bring their personal beds.

Dr. Joseph Tambil, the Health Director, who debunked the reports, stated that the hospital has established makeshift structures to accommodate the influx of cases.

In an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he explained that the facility decided to isolate patients with Cholera from other regular cases to prevent the spread of the disease.

According to him, some journalists who visited the facility mistakenly assumed that the makeshift structures were a result of a bed shortage.

“So the report of patients coming along with their beds to the facility is false, and so I encourage the Ghanaian public to ignore the reports.

“We took a decision to separate the Cholera cases from the usual cases presented at the hospital. We don’t have to put the patients together since that could pose a threat to the patients without Cholera. So we have a temporary holding bay at the hospital where we keep the Cholera patients.”

He confirmed the deaths of two patients who were brought in for medical care.

“We have recorded two deaths as a result of the Cholera. In the first week when we recorded the cases, the public education was not intensive, and so the two patients did not come to the hospital on time, and so they died. So we have recorded two deaths.”

He underscored the need for the Ghanaian public to take caution and adopt preventive measures.

He explained that preventive measures are simple things that we can adopt.

“Avoid taking in uncooked meals or try your best to take in warm or hot cooked meals. Avoid street foods. If you have to eat outside, ensure that the food is hot. Do not consume vegetables and fruits from the streets. If you want to consume them, then you should ensure that they are properly treated, washed with vinegar. Also, avoid handshaking, wash your hands with soap and water. You can also use hand sanitisers. The most important thing also is to ensure early reporting when you experience symptoms, including diarrhoea.”