201 Cholera outbreaks recorded in Volta region

Mr. Draffor with Mr. Dogbegah

The Volta region has so far recorded 201 cholera cases with five casualties as of Tuesday, August 26, Mr Mathew Drafor, Head of Disease Surveillance Unit at the Regional Health Directorate has stated.

According to him, the Ketu-South district recorded the highest number of cases, with 110 cases and two deaths, a sharp increase in 60 cases recorded on Friday, August 22. Also the Nkwanta South recorded 67 cases with three deaths, Ho-West, 12 cases, Ketu-North 10 cases and the Ho Municipality with two cases.

Mr. Draffor disclosed this on Tuesday at a public sensitization forum organised by the Ho Rotary Club in conjunction with the Royal Hospital at the Ho central market on the theme: “End Cholera Now.”

He noted that the increasing pace of the disease is getting out of hand and called for concerted efforts from stakeholders to tackle the menace.

He also urged the public to practice good personal hygiene and also be careful in handling dead persons.

Mr Richard Ahiagbede, Municipal Environmental Officer said the Assembly is fumigating some areas in the communities to halt the spread of the disease.

The Ho Municipal Director of NCCE, Mr Kenneth Kponor, said despite regular education on radio, some individuals remain adamant to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene and calls for the prosecution of such persons.

Mr Rockson Dogbega, President of Ho Rotary Club said the sensitization campaign was necessitated by the fast pace the disease is spreading, stating that “this is to help educate ourselves and our mothers who sell foodstuff to us to prevent the spread of the disease.”

He tasked the participants to become health ambassadors and preach cleanliness, while refuse collectors should step-up their operations.

The recent cholera outbreak has caused havoc in parts of the country, especially in the Greater Accra region where over 3,000 cases have been recorded with at least 40 lives lost.