Campaign initiated to prevent cholera outbreak in W/R

Region, has initiated an awareness campaign to prevent chol­era outbreak within the municipality.

Mrs Wilhemina Tiwaah Duah Mort­tey, the Municipal Health Director for Tarkwa Nsuaem, announced this when the directorate had a meeting with the District Risk Communication Team at Tarkwa.

The meeting reviewed the cur­rent cholera situation and assessed the environmental conditions of the municipality, particularly as they approached the rainy season.

She recalled that the Western Re­gion experienced a cholera outbreak during the fourth quarter of last year, adding that, during that same period, the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality re­corded 167 cases with three deaths.

“As the rains have set in, we are commencing our advocacy and sensi­tisation campaign to raise awareness and address potential health con­cerns.

“Residents must stop dumping sewage and waste into open drains and gutters because this unaccept­able practice spreads cholera infec­tion, as flies can transport the vibrio cholera bacteria from contaminated areas to food,” Mrs Morttey indicat­ed.

The Municipal Health Director reiterated that to prevent cholera, food sold should be properly cov­ered, while food vendors must always ensure their foods were served hot to avoid contamination.

Mrs Josephine Owusu Yeboah, the Municipal Disease Control Officer for Tarkwa Nsuaem, explained that sever­al activities were carried out by the directorate to eliminate the disease from the municipality.

Mrs Yeboah said by working to­gether with key stakeholders in­cluding the National Commission for Civic Education, Information Services Department, National Disaster Man­agement Organisation, Red Cross and the media, they were able to com­municate preventive measures to the various communities.

She stressed that “Despite our cur­rent success in managing the condi­tion, the presence of cases in nearby districts and municipalities pose a risk of the disease returning to our municipality”.

Mr. Benjamin Osei Nti, the Assis­tant to the Munici­pal Environmental Health Officer, on his part stated that it’s not a good idea to dispose of waste in gutters, as the rains could carry it to other areas and cause problems for others. –GNA