Editorial: Ghana Health Service Efforts To Mitigate The Spread Of Malaria Laudable

According to a story published by citinewsroom.com, a total of fifty-six (56) cholera cases have been recorded since the outbreak in the Kasoa enclave, which initially recorded about five cases.Forty-six (46) patients are on admission and responding to treatment while the death toll as reported last week remains at five.The cases reported from Kasoa stand at 15 and the remainder account for cases brought in from other adjoining districts, such as Gomoa East and Ga South.

Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kumah Aboagye, after a visit to the Kasoa area for a stakeholders meeting said the Service had instituted a plan that will ensure an effective treatment and also mitigate the spread, especially from health facilities. He also announced that the situation had improved in the Ada area, where the outbreak began.

Meanwhile, he has urged all regional health departments to be on the alert and also put in place preventive measures against the spread, while admonishing the public to observe high levels of hygiene and sanitation.

The surge in cholera cases in the country is a sharp reminder of the significant gaps in our public sanitation and healthcare system. Cholera is spread through contaminated food, water and unsanitary environments. The call by the GHS for every Ghanaian to prioritise hygiene to wash hands frequently, ensure clean water supplies and avoid unhygienic practices is not just a recommendation but an essential public health intervention that could save lives.

Schools, markets, workplaces and other public spaces must heed this advice by ensuring they have adequate WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities. This includes running water, soap and safe waste disposal options. Hygienic practices must be ingrained in all areas of life and individuals should continue habits adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as regular hand washing and sanitising shared surfaces.

However, relying solely on individual responsibility and urging citizens to maintain cleanliness is insufficient in a country where inadequate waste management and poor drainage systems are still widespread issues.In Kasoa and surrounding areas, as in many other communities across the country, the absence of a coordinated and sustainable waste management system has contributed significantly to unsanitary conditions. While cholera outbreaks often serve as a wake-up call, they also reflect a broader systemic issue that demands long-term solutions.

The government, local authorities and private sector actors must collaborate to ensure efficient waste collection and disposal, particularly in densely populated areas. Effective sanitation programs should be prioritised in the national budget, and there should be sufficient resources for monitoring, enforcing sanitation laws and addressing infrastructural deficits.

Moreover, public health awareness campaigns should be continuous, reaching even the most remote areas with information on preventing cholera and other diseases linked to poor hygiene.Addressing the immediate outbreak also requires equipping healthcare facilities with the tools and resources needed to treat cholera patients and prevent in-hospital transmission.

Health workers must also be trained and protected, as they are on the frontlines in controlling the outbreak. Additionally, the presence of clean water and basic sanitation facilities in every health center and public space is a matter of both public health and human rights.

The tragedy of cholera outbreaks should no longer be tolerated. A country striving for economic and social development must ensure that its citizens are free from preventable diseases linked to environmental negligence.

The cholera outbreak in Kasoa may be contained, but without sustainable changes to sanitation infrastructure and consistent public health efforts, these cases will continue to repeat, claiming lives and burdening our healthcare system.

The fight against cholera is not just about responding to an outbreak but also about preventing the conditions that allow it to thrive. It is time for us to take this challenge seriously, investing in clean water, improved sanitation infrastructure, and ongoing public health education.

We cannot afford to wait until the next outbreak since the health and dignity of every Ghanaian demands urgent and collective action. The time to act is now!

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