1 week Ago By Ghana News
The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Health Directorate in the Western Region, has initiated an awareness campaign to prevent cholera outbreak within the municipality. 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, said 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. She encouraged the public to prioritise hand washing with soap under running water to stay safe from cholera, and “Let us work together to keep our communities clean,” advising that persons who were found engaging in practices that harmed the environment, must be reported to the requisite authorities or advised them to stop. 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.
“Unlike other districts, we have been cholera free, thanks to our partnership with the Environmental Health officials who helped us tackle the issue effectively by clearing of waste, spraying to prevent spread of the disease, and educating food vendors on proper hygiene practices” she said. 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”.
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. He reminded residents in the municipality to store their waste in their homes and dispose it at designated waste collection points to reduce the risk of any outbreak..
