A patient with cholera
Over 700 cholera cases with no death were recorded in 2016, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Ministry of Health (MoH) have stated.
The acute diarrhoea infection which can kill within hours had the highest reported cases from the Cape Coast Municipality in the Central Region.
The metropolis reported 695 cases, followed by Ashanti Region with nine cases, Greater Accra Region with eight cases, Western Region with five cases, Volta Region with two cases and Eastern Region with one case.
This brings to 720, the total number of cholera cases recorded last year.
The Brong-Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West did not record any case of cholera, and there were no deaths recorded in the regions that had cholera cases as well.
In a presentation on the cholera situation in the country during a GHS health promotion day activity, Dr Emmanuel K. Dzotsi, Senior Specialist, Public Health GHS/MoH, said the protracted cholera outbreak within Cape Coast Metropolis started in October 2016 and protracted into January 2017.
However, no new reported cases have recorded across the country for the past two weeks.
“Cumulatively between 1 and 18 January 2017, 12 cholera cases with no deaths have been reported from Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region,” Dr Dzotsi said.
Dr Dzotsi, however, mentioned that overall, cholera still remains a major public health challenge in Ghana.
“Since 1970 when cholera was first reported, major epidemics continue to occur with shorter remission period. Almost every year cholera epidemics are reported in the country,” he stated.
Dr Dzotsi called for stronger efforts by stakeholders, including MMDAs, media and public in practising environmental and personal hygiene, in order to curb the trend of annual cholera cases.
“Drink safe water, wash your hands with soap under running water before eating, preparing food and after using the toilet, eat hot food, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating,” he added.
He also advised the public with symptoms of malaria, including passing two or more watery stools to start drinking ORS and report immediately to the nearest health facility.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri