GHS Sounds Alarm on Cholera Outbreak

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced the outbreak of Cholera in parts of the country with nine reported cases as of last Friday.

In a press statement, it said Ada West recorded the first case.

“The Ghana Health Service confirmed a case of cholera in the Ada West District of Greater Accra Region on 4th October 2024. The person presented to the health facility with vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain a couple of days after attending a funeral in Ada East. Subsequently, Ada East District also reported confirmed cases of cholera.”

In response to this, a joint multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Team (PHERRT) from the national, regional and district levels, as well as representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Environmental Health Units from the two affected districts have been activated.

Other Measures
Other public health measures instituted include the activation of the Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMCs) at all levels across the country and an ongoing outbreak investigation and environmental assessment.

Also, all health facilities have been prompted about the outbreak with contact identification, tracing and follow-up being done.

It furthered, “Healthcare workers in the affected areas have been sensitised on case definitions for cholera, sample management and case management; daily active community case search is being conducted; strict Infection Prevention and Control practices in all health facilities have been enforced; and a cholera oral re-hydration centre for cases with mild symptoms has been set up.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini