Health News of Friday, 26 June 2015

Source: Daily Guide

Cholera kills 2 in Sekondi-Takoradi

cholera patient cholera patient

Two persons have died from cholera in the Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolis in the Western Region.

Some 23 cases have also been confirmed out of the 79 reported cases. Between July and September last year, over 900 cholera cases were recorded.

As the numbers in the Western Region and other parts of the country reduced, little was heard, and so little action at curtailing the disease was triggered.

The Metropolitan Health Director for Sekondi-Takoradi, Madam Joyce Begina, speaking to Citi News indicated that “the Sekondi-Takoradi Metro despite embarking on some sensitisation campaigns has been struggling to contain the disease.”

She said the complete “disregard for safety precautions is a source of worry” as it is established that people are in the know of the factors which cause the disease but “the practice of the knowledge is what is missing.” All the 26 major communities in Sekondi-Takoradi as at June 23, 2015 have at least recorded one case of cholera since the beginning of the second week of this year.

She said, “It is only in the first week of January that the metro did not record cholera cases.”

Great Accra Region also recorded 25 new cases and one death as at last week following the devastating flood that ravaged the capital and other parts of the region.

The Accra Metropolis reported 14 new cases with one death, while the La Nkwantanang recorded six new cases, La Dadekotopon five cases with no deaths.

This upsurge follows the massive flooding in Accra Metropolis that happened on June 3, 2015. The onset of the rains with associated flooding has precipitated an upsurge of cases in the region.