Health Minister Orders Intensified Disease Surveillance following Flooding
The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has ordered intensified disease surveillance in flood-affected areas of Accra following field assessments in communities hit by recent downpours.
The Minister toured Circle VIP, Neoplan Station, and the Achimota-Aloboshie community to evaluate conditions on the ground, facilitate the rapid deployment of appropriate interventions, and step up measures to prevent disease outbreaks.
Mr Akandoh has directed the Ghana Health Service to scale up disease surveillance, strengthen risk communication, and deepen community-level interventions across all affected districts.
Health workers have been urged to intensify public education on preventive practices with support from the media, traditional and religious authorities, and educational institutions.
A coordinated engagement involving the Ghana Health Service, the National Ambulance Service, Faith-based Service Delivery Agencies, the National Health Insurance Authority, and the Ministry of Local Government has also been convened to address critical water, sanitation, and hygiene concerns arising from the floods.
The Ministry has called on all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to work closely with health authorities to enforce environmental sanitation measures and reduce public health risks.
Food vendors have been directed to comply strictly with food hygiene standards.
Residents have been advised to clear drains, remove stagnant water, and maintain clean surroundings.
The Ministry also cautioned that flooding may displace reptiles and other harmful animals into communities, and urged residents to exercise caution.
The Ministry assured the public that the situation is under control and that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard public health, with service delivery sustained.
Ghanaians are encouraged to practice good hygiene, drink safe water, wash hands regularly with soap and water, eat well-cooked food, and promptly report symptoms of illness to the nearest health facility.
The public is further advised to rely only on verified information from official sources.
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