Cholera Outbreak Overshadowed By Ebola, 80 People Killed In Ghana

Independence Arch, Ghana

The Ebola epidemic is overshadowing the Cholera outbreak rampant in parts of West Africa including Nigeria and Cameroon.

The Director General of the Ghana Health Services (GHS) Dr Appiah Denkyira has announced on Wednesday that the cholera outbreak that hit the country in June has killed 80 people with 10,000 cases recorded since the outbreak of the disease.

Speaking on measures to halt the outbreak, Dr Denkyira suggested a public ban on food vending in the streets since investigations have revealed streets food vending was among the causal factors.

The disease first hit parts of the capital where some hospitals found it difficult to contain the number of patients reporting to the health facilities. This included La Polyclinic and Korle Bu Polyclinic that forced the authorities to direct affected patients to other hospitals in the metropolis.

The disease, according to the GHS Director, has spread across the country and needed urgent attention to combat the menace.

Meanwhile, some opposition parties like the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) on had earlier in the week criticized President John Dramani Mahama on poor handling of the situation.

Last Saturday, President Mahama in a bid to rid Accra off filth joined the residents of James Town, a hard hit area, to clean the gutters. He has also directed that all communities in the country should embark on a monthly clean up exercise to ensure a healthy environment.