Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has outlined the comprehensive measures being taken to address the ongoing cholera outbreak in Ghana.
According to him, the response to the outbreak has been a multi-sectorial effort, with health authorities collaborating with various partners to control the spread of the disease.
He noted that regional and district public health emergency committees have been activated in all affected regions to ensure a coordinated response.
He said surveillance efforts have been intensified, with active community case searches and contact tracing being carried out in all districts to quickly identify and manage cases.
He noted that the ministry has also worked to strengthen laboratory capacities for the accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of suspected cases.
In addition to health interventions, Mr Akandoh stressed the importance of environmental assessments conducted in all affected districts to identify and address risk factors such as poor sanitation and unsafe water supply.
He highlighted that healthcare workers in affected areas have been trained on case management and infection prevention. Furthermore, a public awareness campaign has been launched to educate communities on cholera prevention.
According to him, a key part of the response has been the deployment of cholera vaccines in high-risk areas to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further spread.
He noted that the vaccination campaign has been successful, with 92.9% of the target population in five districts in the Central and Western Regions having been vaccinated. Vaccination efforts have also been extended to the Accra Metropolitan Area, where over 250,000 people have been vaccinated as of February 17 with vaccination plans for Agona West are also underway.
Despite these efforts, Mr. Akandoh stressed that challenges remain in the fight against cholera, particularly due to poor sanitation, hygiene practices, and limited access to safe water. He noted that cholera thrives in areas with inadequate sanitation, open defecation, and unsafe water, underscoring the need for a long-term multi-sectorial approach to address these issues.
He called on local authorities to increase their support for the ongoing response and emphasized the importance of improving sanitation, food safety, water safety, and personal hygiene to prevent future outbreaks.
