The Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service says the current cholera outbreak ravaging parts is now an epidemic.

Health authorities in the region appear to be losing the battle against the disease which has claimed more lives in Accra in one week, compared to the dreaded Ebola disease in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the same period.

Over 3,000 cases have been recorded at various facilities across the region in in June, claiming at least 40 lives as at Wednesday morning.

The La General Hospital alone, has recorded over 700 cases with eight (9) deaths. Twenty-five (25) of the cases were reported within six hours on Wednesday according to Kojo Yankson, host of Joy FM's Super Morning Show.  

Today’s edition of the SMS was broadcast live from the La General Hospital in the La Dadekotopon Municipaity which has been under pressure since the outbreak was reported two months ago.

The hospital which has space to handle 13 cholera cases at a time, is now attending to scores of cases on benches at the OPD.

“A woman who was brought in a while ago looking dehydrated, has just died,” Kojo Yankson said gallingly.  She had stayed home with symptoms of the disease for five days, the doctors said.

“As far as Accra is concerned this is a complete outbreak,” Deputy Director of Public Health at the Regional Health Directorate, Dr. John Eleeza disclosed.

He said his office has directed authorities at the La Dadekotopon Municipaity to find space in other health centres within the Assembly and send some of the cases there to relieve the pressure on La General Hospital.

Dr. Eleeza blamed the continuous spread of the disease on people’s disregard for hygienic practices despite the public education campaigns. People must always ensure that they eat food hot and boil water before drinking if they are not sure of the source, he admonished.

There will be a reduction in the number of reported cases in the coming days, Dr. Eleeza added.

                    

Health and filth

In a related development, research by the Disease Control Unit has downplayed the role of filth in the cholera outbreak in Greater Accra.

Accra been battling filth in recent times as heaps of uncollected refuse are littered along many streets, compelling the Vice president, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur to issue a 10-day ultimatum to city authorities to clear all the filth.

However, Lord Kwabittey, Osu Klottey Sub-Metro Disease Control Officer who led the Research told Joy News, their work revealed that majority of the cholera cases recorded are not directly linked to filth, but lack of hand washing manners.