World Vision Ghana (WVG), a non-governmental organisation, has donated 160,000 packets of water purifiers, 450 veronica buckets and other logistics to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to support the cholera fight.

The Interim National Director of WVG, Jean-Claude Mukadi, who presented the items to the Director-General (DG) GHS, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, said the organisation was passionate about the health needs of people, especially in rural communities and, therefore, its commitment to help fight against cholera in the country. 

He expressed his organisation’s commitment to supporting the government efforts at strengthening the health system against public health emergencies.

He appealed to the government to consider granting tax exemptions for “gift-in-kind” items from donor partners.

“Such support will undoubtedly enhance our collaborative efforts to provide quality healthcare and encourage partners and donors to contribute additional resources toward supplying vital non-medical logistics for the health sector,” he stated.

Receiving the items, Prof. Akoriyea said the GHS had achieved 99 per cent coverage of its target population for the oral cholera vaccination campaign, resulting in a decline in new cases.

“For the past three weeks, we have not recorded any death. In some places, we do not even have anyone admitted and at other places where some are on admission, they are very mild and discharged at the end of the day.

He urged the populace not to relent on hand washing and hygiene practices to reduce exposure to the bacteria.

“Should you feel any sign or symptoms, please report to the hospital immediately and it is free of charge once you are on the NHIS until we get the situation absolutely controlled.

We don’t want people to stay at home and come to the hospital late so if you feel anything abnormal or that is suspicious, go quickly to the hospital,” he advised.

Cholera in Ghana

Cholera is an acute diarrhoea infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with traces of human faeces.

Symptoms include frequent diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration along with abdominal cramps, fever, headache, fatigue, dry mouth and throat, as well as decreased urine output and severe cases can be fatal within hours if left untreated.

Since October last year, the country has been recording sporadic outbreaks of cholera in parts of the Greater Accra, Western, Central, Eastern and Ashanti regions.

As of February 2025, more than 700 cholera cases were confirmed with about 49 deaths.