Health News of Thursday, 2 April 2015

Source: GNA

Prestea Huni/Valley District records four cholera cases

The Prestea Huni/Valley District in the Western Region has recorded four cholera cases at Bogoso and Prestea-Ankobra communities during the past three days.

The victims comprise two females and two males, and three of them have been treated and discharged while fourth one is receiving treatment at the Prestea Government Hospital.

Mr. Robert Nterful, District Disease Control officer, disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bogoso on Tuesday.

He said the homes of the victims had been fumigated to protect others from the cholera virus, and cited the indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defecation as some of the major causes of the cholera in the district.

Mr. Nterful noted that many buildings in the district did not have toilet facilities and the residents defecated anywhere, with the faeces eventually ending up in water bodies..

He said the Environmental Health Department had embarked on public education in churches, mosques, markets and schools to educate the people on how to prevent cholera.

The District Disease Control Officer called on the public to cultivate the habit of washing their hands frequently, keep their surroundings clean as the rains had set in, and ensure that they did not buy food that was prepared or sold near chocked gutters.

Mr. Nterful assured the people of Prestea/Huni Valley that his outfit will do everything possible to contain the disease.