The Greater Accra Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an alert on a possible outbreak of cholera and other infectious disease in the region.

The alert, signed by GHS Regional Director, Dr Linda Van Otoo, cited the constant rains coupled with flooding in parts of the capital as reasons for a possible outbreak of cholera and other diseases.

Precautionary measures stipulated in the alert that the GHS is urging all to adopt include:

1. Washing of hands with soap and under running water before preparing food, and after visiting the toilet.

2. Washing of plates and cooking bowls before use etc

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Victor Bampoe has indicated Greater Accra’s readiness to handle potential cholera cases, or an outbreak of any infectious disease.

“The rains are upon us, and the Ministry of Health with the assistance from the Government of Ghana has put in place measures to minimize any potential cholera outbreak”, he writes on his Facebook wall.

The following are what according to the Deputy Health Minister have been put in place to deal with the viral disease in case there is an outbreak:

1. Government has already procured large quantities of fluids, giving sets, PPEs and other logistics to be distributed to the facilities that usually manage these cases

2. Government is rehabilitating old wards (and in some cases, providing new ones) for any potential 'overspill' cases

3. DANIDA has provided significant funding for Ghana's fight against cholera

4. WHO has provided 4.5 tones of 'diarrheal kits' - fluids, giving sets, antibiotics to be distributed to the facilities

5.The EU has, through the Ghana Red Cross Society, provided $600,000 for cholera

6. Many other donors like DFID, USAID, UNICEF and others are supporting us with significant contributions of logistics etc.

He writes further:

“Other Ministries, Departments and Agencies are doing their part. At the Inter-ministerial meeting on cholera which I chaired last week, we were informed that the Ministry of Local Government is working with UNICEF on a WASH campaign and has also tasked its assemblies to produce and implement 'cholera plans.

“NADMO and the Ministry of Water Resources are supplying potable water to areas without water in Accra, and the Ministry of Communications will soon intensify messages on how to prevent and avoid cholera. Let's all do our bit to make cholera a thing of the past.”