Ashanti Region battles Cholera outbreak as cases surge in Sekyere South

The Ashanti Region has recorded its first confirmed cholera cases, with five cases reported across three districts.

The Sekyere South District has the highest incidence, reporting three cases, while Kumasi and Bekwai have each recorded one case as of December 28, 2024.

Out of 28 suspected cases, laboratory results confirmed five positive cases.

This development marks the region’s entry into a nationwide cholera outbreak that has affected the Western, Greater Accra, and Central Regions. Across Ghana, 4,155 suspected cases and 35 fatalities have been reported since October 2024.

Emergency Response Measures

The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), environmental health officers, and water and sanitation departments, has initiated several measures to contain the outbreak.

These include:

• Disinfecting the homes of confirmed cases.
•  Isolating affected individuals and tracing their contacts.
• Enhancing public health surveillance in collaboration with district health teams.
• Mobilizing public health emergency committees in affected areas.

A preliminary assessment in Bekwai and Sekyere South revealed that all confirmed cases originated from specific locations, with no cases linked to public restroom usage.

Intensified Awareness and Training

Under the leadership of Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, the Regional Health Directorate has intensified awareness campaigns and trained healthcare workers on case definitions, identification, and contact tracing.

The outbreak, which began earlier this year in the Western Region, has claimed 15 lives out of over 100 cases reported there.

Health authorities are urging residents to adhere to hygiene protocols, including frequent handwashing, safe food preparation, and proper sanitation practices, to curb the disease’s spread.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi 

The post Ashanti Region battles Cholera outbreak as cases surge in Sekyere South appeared first on Asaase Radio.