92 Cholera fatalities recorded in seven regions
Ninety-two fatalities have so far been recorded across the country out of 10,265 reported cases of cholera since the outbreak of the infectious disease in early June, this year.
Advertisement
The figures mean that averagely, 111 cases are recorded, while one person dies daily since the outbreak of the disease.
While tons of garbage continue to pile up across cities in the country, cholera cases also keep rising in all but the three northern regions.
In spite of efforts by the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies(MMDAs) to clear the refuse, the number of cholera cases is putting pressure on major hospitals in the country, as they struggle to cope with increased cases of the disease.
WHO intervention
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Victor Bampoe, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) officials would arrive in the country this week to do an assessment of two oral cholera vaccines that can possibly be used to stop the outbreak.
On how soon the vaccines will be distributed, if the WHO gives the order, he said the supply of the vaccines was going to be a rapid process which would be done as soon as the assessment was completed by the end of the week.
Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if not treated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called vibrio cholerae.
The disease is most common in places with environments associated with poor sanitation and crowding.
Dr Bampoe said a philanthropist had already donated 100,000 dozens of the vaccine and added that if the WHO authorised it, it would be used to contain the disease.
“The three northern regions have so far not recorded any case of cholera, so they may use the vaccine to create a barrier between the southern and the northern regions. We could also use the vaccine to vaccinate people strategically to prevent further transmission but that will depend on the WHO to tell us how to use it,” he said.
Presentation
Meanwhile, the deputy minister has presented 1660 boxes of anti-cholera solution and 1,000 ringer lactate injections to the La General Hospital in Accra for the treatment of the disease.
The presentation followed a directive by the President and a request from the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, to the Ministry of Health to furnish hospitals in the metropolis with medication needed to save the lives of cholera patients.
The medication would be used for the treatment of patients free of charge.
Dr Bampoe asked the hospital authorities to do their best to help curb the outbreak.
The Principal Nursing Officer of the hospital, Ms Adisa Abu, received the items.
Other hospitals to benefit from the medication include LEKMA, Madina, Adabraka Polyclinic, and Mamobi Polyclinic.
Statistics
Cholera outbreaks are not new to Ghana. In 2011, 10,628 cholera cases with 105 deaths were reported. In 2012, 9,542 cholera cases were recorded with 100 deaths. In 2013, no deaths were recorded in spite of some reported cases.
According to WHO figures, between 1970 and 2012, the country recorded 5,498 cholera deaths.