Cholera Still Elusive

Cholera remains elusive and alarming, teasing officialdom beyond compare. Almost on the verge of an epidemic, officialdom is all but miniscule and ineffective in subduing it as the death toll mounts. One of our editorials last week was a lamentation over the killer disease, against the backdrop of so-called official response.

We thought we could vary the tone of our commentary this week because of a possible overcoming of the deadly nuisance. Not so, however, as the death toll tips over 90 and 10,265 infections.

More publicity about the visit of government appointees to patients is the order of the moment—activities which appear to be emboldening the lethal bacteria than eradicating it.

Less talk and more action would be a better approach under the circumstances. We have learnt that some facilities are even turning away patients manifesting symptoms of the disease. The reason, we can guess, is either because such facilities are less primed to handle cholera cases or overwhelmed by them.

Suffice it to point out that when patients are turned away in the manner we are hearing and in the face of inadequate resources at the disposal of families, the consequences can easily be conjectured: certain death because they are unable to afford private infirmaries.

There are a few recommendations worth exploring in the fight against cholera: fresh vegetables which do not need cooking before consumption such as salad leaves, cucumber and others should be handled properly by gutter-side farmers including farm-gate buyers, mindful about cholera.

What quality of water is used by the farmers who plant these vegetables in Accra? While some of these vegetables are brought in from neighbouring countries such as Togo and Burkina Faso, a sizable quantity are produced in Accra.

Perhaps the relevant authorities should look at the sources of water for watering the plants. If indeed some of them use water from the drainages along which the city gardens are located, then there is a challenge worth addressing.

We do not seek to have such gardeners or farmers deprived of their sources of their daily bread.  Given the vastness of the business of vegetable production in Accra, it is obvious that it supports both farmers and the women who engage in farm-gate activities.

In the markets, traders still lay out vegetables on the ground as though we were in normal times. The need for such women and chop bar owners to observe a higher standard of hygiene in their handling of food and water would be a step in the right direction.

The creation of sanitation committees in the suburbs, with the involvement of assemblymen and women, would be such a fantastic idea. Such committees should be empowered to deal with sanitation breaches and the education of residents about the realities of cholera and other diseases related to bad hygiene standards.

The city authorities should deploy inspectors in the city to confiscate food items which do not meet consumption safety standards, especially since most of the infections can be traced to roadside food sellers. A radical response to an outrageous disease outbreak is appropriate.