The move would also help prevent any other communicable diseases like malaria, fever, diarrhoea, typhoid among others, to safeguard life as well as entire communities.
Madam Rebecca Tehorah, Community Health Nurse Promotion Officer at Keta, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said Cholera was a deadly disease but could be prevented.
“Cholera is a sickness that causes very bad diarrhoea and it is cause by a tiny germs called vibrio cholerae and it’s very dangerous. This is the more reason why we need to practice good personal hygiene all the time,” she said.
She said that many people got infected through drinking of dirty water and eating of foods that had been contaminated by germs whilst symptoms included excessive vomiting, body weakness, watering stools among others.
Madam Tehorah told the GNA that Cholera could be treated through some Oral Dehydration Therapy (ORS) steps, which included a mixture of six level teaspoons and half teaspoon of sugar and salt respectively, with one litre of clean or boiled cooled water and drink in small amounts or any antibiotics prescribed by licensed physician.
“Well, Cholera can be prevented by drinking clean water, regular washing of hand with soap under clean running water, maintain and use clean toilet always and take vaccine as well.”
She urged the communities to always drink safe water, eat hot food, and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables with clean and safe water before eating to prevent any unexpected sickness during and after the Christmas.
She said that the area had not recorded any Cholera cases within the period but people should be very careful and vigilant during the Christmas season and always maintain hygienic environment to prevent such occurrences.
She advised the people to always drink ORS and zinc tablet and report immediately to the nearest health facility to safeguard life, should they suspect a Cholera case.
She said that Ghana Health Service (GHS) had earlier reported that as at December 23, this year, a total of 4,155 Cholera suspected cases were reported with 35 Cholera deaths recorded, while the majority of deaths occurred within 24 hours of admission.
It said the most affected region is the Western region with 17 cases of deaths.
GHS also reported that between November 30 and December 19, 2024, oral Cholera vaccination campaign with a total number of 662,906 persons been vaccinated out of 792,482 expected population in some hotspots such as Awutu Senya East, Ahanta West, Sekondi-Takoradi among others.
GNA
