The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reported a total of nine confirmed cases of cholera in the Ada West and Ada East districts of the Greater Accra Region.
In a press release signed by the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the service confirmed that the first case emerged on October 4, 2024. A patient presented to a health facility in the Ada West District with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain shortly after attending a funeral in Ada East. Following this, the Ada East District also reported additional cholera cases.
As of October 11, the total number of confirmed cholera cases in both districts stands at nine.
In response to these cases, the GHS has activated a multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Team (PHERRT) involving national, regional, and district-level representatives. This includes members from the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Ghana Education Service (GES), National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Environmental Health Units from the affected districts.
Additionally, Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMCs) have been established at all levels. Efforts are ongoing to identify contacts, trace individuals, investigate the outbreak, and assess the environmental situation.
To curb the spread of cholera, the GHS has implemented several measures, including enforcing strict infection prevention and control protocols in health facilities, conducting daily community searches for cases, and educating health workers on cholera case definitions, sampling, and management. They have also set up oral rehydration solutions for patients with mild symptoms and intensified public education campaigns about cholera. Monitoring of rumors and misinformation, as well as assessments of potable water and environmental sanitation, are also part of the strategy.
The Ministry of Health and the GHS, alongside relevant partners, have reassured the public of their commitment to promptly detect and respond to public health emergencies.
Historically, Ghana’s most significant cholera outbreak occurred in 2017, with over 24,000 cases reported nationwide. However, from 2020 to 2023, only ten cases have been documented, highlighting a decline attributed to improved hygiene practices, particularly handwashing, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
