Cholera vaccination begins in Effutu, Agona West municipalities

The acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has reiterated that vaccination alone is not enough to prevent cholera outbreaks and called for proper hygienic practices to break transmission.

He emphasised that while vaccines play a crucial role in mitigating the spread of the disease, maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation remains the most effective means of combating the disease.

At the launch of a cholera vaccination programme at Winneba in the Effutu municipality last Tuesday, Prof. Akoriyea said many people held the misconception that the vaccine was a total solution and complete shield against cholera outbreak.

Four hundred and fifty personnel have been trained to administer the oral cholera vaccine across the Effutu and Agona municipalities, two municipalities which have been most hit by the outbreak.

The team undertook vaccination in Winneba and Agona Swedru in the Effutu and Agona West municipalities.

Cleanliness

"Vaccination is important, but it is not a magical solution to cholera," he stated, adding that "Cleanliness and proper hygiene are what will truly make a difference. People must understand that sanitation is the key to breaking the cycle of infections."

"During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana recorded no cholera cases because people adhered to hygiene protocols like regular hand washing," he pointed out.

He indicated that the severe impact of the cholera outbreak on the Effutu and Agona West municipalities, which had led to multiple deaths, though worrying could be curbed and advised residents to refrain from consuming cold food.

"If we maintain such practices by washing our hands frequently with soap and ensuring a clean environment, we can effectively prevent future outbreaks," he said.

Safe

Reassuring the public, Prof. Akoriyea said, "The vaccine is safe, and I want to refute claims that it is poisonous.”

"Residents should take advantage of this free vaccination exercise to protect themselves and their communities."

The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, also expressed concern over the rising cholera cases in the region, describing the situation as "alarming and unacceptable."

He said the financial burden the government had taken on to secure vaccines was significant, urging residents to complement those efforts with better sanitation practices.

"The government is investing heavily to make these vaccines available for free.”

"But these are funds that could have been allocated to other developmental projects. If we maintain cleanliness, we can reduce the incidence of cholera and direct resources to other pressing needs," he said.

Clean-up exercise

As part of efforts to enhance sanitation, the minister announced that the last week of every month would now be designated for a mandatory community clean-up exercise across all districts in the Central Region.

"This is not optional. Every resident is expected to participate because ensuring a clean environment is a collective responsibility," he said.

To support the clean-up exercises, the Ghana Health Service has supplied essential sanitation materials, including chlorine, Wellington boots, gloves, face masks and disposable coveralls.

Traditional leaders have also thrown their support behind the initiative, with a traditional leader at Agona Swedru, Nana Kwaku Esianya V, urging residents to actively take part in the sanitation drive, especially as his community has recorded a high number of cases.

"It is not enough to clean outside while our homes remain dirty. We must tackle the issue from the root by ensuring our immediate surroundings are free from filth before stepping out to clean public spaces," he remarked.