Tamale, Nov.14, GNA - Five persons have died, 12 on admission and 12 others treated and discharged at the Tamale Regional Hospital following Cholera outbreak within the Metropolis.

Dr. Elias Sory, Northern Regional Director of Health Services, in a release said one person out of the 29 reported cases resorted to self-medication at home.

Dr. Sory said 11 out of the initial 12 reported cases were from Sakasaka, Gumbihini, Agric and Mohiyabihi communities within the Metropolis.

The Northern Regional Health Directorate is therefore, feverishly working hard to prevent more people from dying. It has therefore, embarked on public education programmes and dispatched medical teams to carry out more detailed community investigation and sensitisation, especially in the affected suburbs. The Metropolitan Assembly has also planned to form Cholera Epidemic Management Committee as a measure to contain the spread of the disease. Dr. Sory called on the public to maintain personal and food hygiene and environmental cleanliness, the lack of which would help spread the disease.

He appealed to persons with frequent watery stools to report immediately to the nearest health facility for assessment and treatment, saying: "Treatment for Cholera is free and nobody should use the lack of money or poverty to refuse treatment."

Dr Sory noted, "Henceforth all persons suspected to have died of the disease should be buried immediately under supervision."

"Meals at funerals are discouraged while food prepared for individual and public consumption be covered and protected from flies." He added.