It said the increasing spread of cholera across Ghana and the rising cases of meningitis in the northern regions needed to be addressed and decisive action taken to contain the outbreaks to prevent further loss of lives.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, SEND Ghana said the cholera outbreak, which began in the Western and Central regions in October, was steadily spreading to other areas, including the Eastern, Greater Accra, and Northern regions.
Meanwhile, meningitis cases are also rising in parts of Northern Ghana, posing an additional threat to public health.
The statement said the simultaneous outbreaks of these diseases demanded urgent and coordinated action to protect lives and prevent further escalation.
“As a matter of urgency, we strongly urge the Ghana Health Service to equip the Health nPromotion Unit with the necessary resources to implement a comprehensive public education campaign on cholera and meningitis control”, it added.
It said this should be done through traditional and social media, as well as community information centres, to raise public awareness and interest effectively.
In addition, beyond responding to this outbreak, it said Ghana must prioritise long-term
preparedness and effective response by establishing a dedicated and sustainable source of funding for epidemic response at both national and district levels.
“The government must demonstrate commitment to public health security by making budgetary allocations for public health emergency funding, ensuring timely and adequate resources to prevent and manage future outbreaks effectively”, the statement said.
It urged all Ghanaians to adhere to the health protocols and guidance provided by the Ghana Health Service to effectively manage both the cholera and meningitis outbreaks.
GNA
