A few years after grappling with the deadly COVID-19 outbreak, it appears that most people, especially Ghanaians, have neglected safety measures and maintaining good hygiene, particularly hand washing.
Prior to covid, cholera was one of the diseases that affected most people, especially those who found themselves in poor hygienic conditions.
However, during covid, cholera infections declined massively due to the upkeep of improved hygienic conditions and proper sanitation practices.
In 2017, the cholera cases recorded in Ghana were 24,358.
In 2018, the cases dropped to 1,896.
Prior to COVID, there were 171 recorded cases in 2019.
However, the GHS (Ghana Health Service) revealed through a Right to Information (RTI) in 2020 that there was only one recorded case.
In 2021, 8 cases of cholera were recorded, whereas one case had been recorded in 2022 as of June.
This, according to the president, was because the protocols implemented during the period of the COVID-19 scourge had a positive impact on addressing sanitation-related diseases, such as diarrhea.
We recall that somewhere in 2023, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, stated that, “There has been a dramatic decrease in diarrheal diseases, and we have not had any cholera outbreaks these past three years—these developments are attributable mostly to the handwashing and improved hygiene regimen in our communities.”
Current cases
However, in November 2024, reports indicate that out of 47 confirmed cases in the Central Region, seven individuals have lost their lives due to cholera, with approximately 720 cases suspected.
In Greater Accra, 10 persons out of 72 confirmed infected cases reportedly died from the outbreak.
This is obviously an alarming situation that needs swift attention.
Read Also: Porcia Oforiwaa writes: Stop carrying germs around! Frequent handwashing is a must, not an option
About cholera
A germ causes cholera, a diarrheal disease, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS). Mostly found in feces, the germ spreads when a person drinks water or consumes contaminated food.
Cholera symptoms include profuse, painless, and watery diarrhea, vomiting, and symptoms such as thirst, fatigue, weakness, and rapid loss of body fluid, which can potentially lead to death.
Transmission
The GHS has informed people that contaminated fingers/hands, flies, water, and food commonly spread the cholera germ. The transmission of cholera occurs through the ingestion of contaminated water, the vomitus of patients, and, to a lesser extent, the feces of carriers. Foods contaminated include milk, cooked rice, beans, eggs, seafood, and fruits and vegetables, among others.
The sources of contamination include hands and bodies of asymptomatic cholera patients/carriers and contaminated articles (buckets, cups, cloths, clothes, etc.).
Prevention
Meanwhile, to prevent cholera, the GHS has advised people to wash their hands with soap under safe running water before eating, cooking, or after using the toilet.
In addition, it’s important to drink safe water, consume hot food, avoid cold food, and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating.
Food handlers should wash their hands, cups, plates, and cutlery sets with soap and safe water regularly before use and also cover food for sale.
The GHS advises that people with acute diarrhea should start drinking ORS and immediately visit the nearest health facility.
Writers take
Despite cautions, education, and alerts from the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health, it is up to the public to protect themselves from this disease.
Every individual has the responsibility to ensure personal hygiene in order to protect themselves from this disease.
People need to return to maintaining hygienic practices, which include cleaning up their surroundings, eating warm meals, properly disposing of waste, ceasing open defecation, and, most importantly, frequently washing their hands.
During the covid-19 outbreak, most institutions, including churches, schools, offices, and workplaces, placed Veronica buckets with soap, hand sanitizers, and their entrance and/or open places to enable everyone to wash their hands properly and keep them from spreading bacteria.
While some institutions maintained these buckets with soap and water, the majority stored them away.
Some people kept their buckets without any soap or water attached.
Who are you deceiving?
The worrying part of this is the schools that have defective Veronica buckets.
If this cholera outbreak spreads to these schools, we, as a nation that believes God must take care of everything for us despite our own negligence, can only pray to God for intervention.
We should return to the days of maintaining proper hygiene to prevent further infections brought on by unhygienic practices.
Always wash your hands as soon as you get home from town, before eating, and after using the restroom, regardless of whether you went to urinate or defecate.
Always remember, you do not have the microscopic eyes to see what was left at the door handle you touched.
Cholera is real and can kill. Let us break it now.
#Washyourhands
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
