Acting Director General of the Ghana Health Service Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea says the service is ready to take cholera and meningitis education to schools and other public places as part of its sensitization exercise across the country.

The Acting Director General who visited the Central Region to be better acquainted with the outbreak of cholera said health professionals are up to the task of dealing with the menace.

The first cholera case in the Central Region was recorded on October 31, 2024, in Kasoa, Awutu Senya East Municipality.

Currently, the total number of suspected cases stands at 2,047, with 14 confirmed deaths.

According to the Central Regional Health Directorate, earlier hotspots such as Awutu Senya East, Assin North, Agona East, Upper Denkyira West, and Gomoa West no longer have active cases. However, Ajumako and Ekumfi have now emerged as new districts with active infections.

“The Central Region confirmed its first case on October 31, 2024, and since then the numbers have increased. Currently, our cumulative suspected case stands at 2047 while cumulative confirmed cases stand at 189. The Cumulative number of contacts identified is 4426.

The total contacts who have completed five-day follow-up is pegged at 4078. The cumulative confirmed cases from contact are 17, while the cumulative confirmed death toll for the region is 14,” Dr Agnes A. Anane Acting Director of Health Services for the region said.

Acting Regional Director of Health Services Dr. Agnes A. Anane highlights measures being implemented to contain the outbreak.

“We have activated the regional and district public teams to deal with the menace in their respective districts while contact tracing is also happening. We are also liaising with the various assemblies to enforce sanitation bylaws while embarking on disinfection exercise,” the Acting Regional Director of Health Service said.

Meanwhile, water rationing in the Central Region is worsening the situation, as residents struggle to access clean water for sanitation and domestic use.

Regional Director for Community Water and Sanitation Agency Dr. Ato Quansah explains the challenges in ensuring adequate water supply.

To combat the outbreak, Acting Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, says the GHS will intensify public education in schools and markets while also rolling out vaccination campaigns.

“As a stopgap measure health professionals will be going out to sensitize students and market women on the need to be aware of the situation and what to do when they encounter such a situation “Professor Kaba said.