Cholera Cases Surge In Ashanti And Brong Ahafo

Ashanti region has recorded 30 confirmed cases of cholera with one death since the beginning of last month. 

These were among about 80 reported cases of the epidemic across the region. 

The Deputy Ashanti Regional Director in charge of Public Health, Dr Joseph Oduro, who disclosed this in Kumasi said only three of the patients are still on admission with all the others successfully treated and discharged. 

On Ebola preparedness, the Deputy Regional Director of Health said each public hospital in the region has set up an isolation centre to temporarily keep and manage suspected carriers of the virus while a regional holding centre for the handling of victims is under construction. 

Dr Oduro said however, that supply of personal protective equipment for health personnel who will be in charge of any Ebola case is not enough but was quick to add that more are expected very soon. 

Meanwhile, Brong-Ahafo has recorded 31 cases of cholera with one death so far. 

The affected Districts include Techiman Municipal, Techiman North, Nkoranza South, Wenchi, Atebubu, Sene, Asutifi South and Sunyani. 

The Deputy Regional Director in Charge of Public Health, Dr Kofi Issah, disclosed this at the Regional Epidemic Management Committee meeting held in Sunyani. 

He said the mode of transmission is mainly through contaminated water, foods, fruits and vegetables. 

He therefore advised the public especially bachelors to be wary of the environment within which they buy food to eat. 

In a related development, 49 suspected cholera cases have been reported in the Sekondi-Takoradi Municipality. 

With 12 of them confirmed since the outbreak of the disease in the country, no deaths have so far been recorded. 

The Metropolitan Health Promotion Officer Kwadwo Asante-Afari made this known at the launch of a sensitization programme on Cholera and Ebola organised by Western Care Initiative, a hygienic and sanitation promotion NGO at Kwesimitim Zongo in Takoradi. 

GBC