The Ministry of Health has stepped up efforts to prevent disease outbreaks following the recent floods that affected parts of Accra, with the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, undertaking field assessments in some of the hardest-hit communities.
In a statement released and signed by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Tony Goodman, the Ministry said the Minister visited Circle VIP, Neoplan Station and the Achimota-Aloboshie community to assess conditions on the ground, facilitate the rapid deployment of appropriate interventions and intensify measures to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
He indicated the Minister had directed the Ghana Health Service to intensify disease surveillance, scale up risk communication and strengthen community-level interventions in all affected districts.
It added that health workers had also been urged to deepen public education on preventive practices with support from the media, traditional and religious authorities, and educational institutions.
The Ministry further disclosed that a coordinated engagement involving the Ghana Health Service, the National Ambulance Service, faith-based service delivery agencies, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Ministry of Local Government had been convened to address critical water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) concerns arising from the floods.
The statement called on all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to work closely with health authorities to enforce environmental sanitation measures and reduce public health risks.
It also directed food vendors to strictly comply with food hygiene standards, while urging the public to clear drains, remove stagnant water and maintain clean surroundings.
Residents were further advised to exercise caution, as flooding may displace reptiles and other harmful animals into communities.
The Ministry assured the public that the situation remains under control and that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard public health while ensuring uninterrupted healthcare service delivery.
It encouraged Ghanaians to practise good hygiene by drinking safe water, washing hands regularly with soap and water, eating well-cooked food and promptly reporting symptoms of illness to the nearest health facility.
The Ministry also urged the public to rely only on verified information from official sources regarding the flood situation and related public health advisories.
