No Cholera Case In Ashanti

From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi
STASTISTICS AVAILABLE to the Ashanti Regional Public Health Directorate has indicated that Ashanti region did not record any case of cholera in the first half of the year.

Dr. Kwasi Yeboah Awudzi, Ashanti regional Deputy of Director of Public Health emphasized that so far as the region is concerned there is no confirmation of cholera case in the region since January to the month of June this year, and that no death has been recorded because of cholera outbreak.

The Director of Public Health, however, explained that four suspected cases were reported during the first half of the year, but proved negative after testing.

According to him, the directorate has put pragmatic measures in place to always help curb the outbreak of the disease to avoid the recurrence of the 2014 experience -when 28,975 cases were recorded as the highest figure since 1983, when the nation recorded 15,032.

Dr. Yeboah Awudzi revealed that efforts to kick out cholera in the region in particular and at the national level in general are supported by the implementation of the Rapid Diagnostics Test (RDT) for cholera.

He stated that, out of the 28,975 in 2014, Ashanti region recorded 287 cases and three deaths but no death has been recorded this year, as the directorate is firmly in control of the situation.

Director Yeboah Awudzi appealed to the various Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs) to help educate the general public as we are about to enter the rainy season.

He also advised the cultivation of attitude of cleanliness and washing of hands with soap before and after eating to prevent contracting cholera.

He also pleaded with the general public to take the National Sanitation Day serious to improve on sanitation and cleanliness to help prevent the outbreak of cholera.