Ghana Health Service calls for return to COVID-19 hygiene protocols to tackle the surging Cholera Outbreak
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is urging the public to re-adopt COVID-19-era hygiene practices as a measure to curb a recent cholera outbreak.
Dr. Dennis Laryea, Deputy Director of Disease Surveillance at GHS, underscored the preventable nature of cholera-related deaths, highlighting the importance of timely medical intervention.
“Our main concern is the mortality rate,” Dr. Laryea said, pointing out that several patients have succumbed due to delays in seeking care.
“Many patients were brought in already deceased, indicating delays in seeking care. Of the cases we have seen, about seven or eight patients arrived too late for us to intervene effectively. Many others succumbed within 12 to 24 hours of admission, leaving little time for treatment. We urge anyone experiencing symptoms such as vomiting or watery diarrhea to seek medical help immediately to prevent complications like kidney failure due to severe dehydration.” Dr. Laryea added that sanitation and personal hygiene practices remain key to cholera prevention.
“The conditions driving the outbreak remain—personal hygiene and food handling practices need improvement. People must wash their hands with soap and clean water before eating and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables. Improper waste management continues to pose a high risk for disease spread,” he said.
The current outbreak has so far claimed 16 lives, with 116 confirmed cases reported across the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, and Western regions, intensifying concerns among health officials and communities.
