In response to the alarming rise in typhoid fever cases in the Oti Region, the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly has announced plans to strengthen screening measures for food vendors.

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Joseph Awal revealed that the municipality has recorded over 2,000 typhoid fever cases in 2025 alone, stressing the urgent need for intervention.

“Typhoid is preventable, and as an assembly, we cannot sit back and watch our people suffer from diseases that can be avoided,” he said, adding that food vendors must comply with strict hygiene standards.

Typhoid fever, caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria, is commonly linked to the consumption of contaminated food and water. The Oti Region has so far reported more than 23,000 cases in the first half of 2025, raising serious public health concerns.

To tackle the crisis, the assembly will implement a comprehensive screening programme for food vendors, assessing their compliance with health regulations on food handling, sanitation, and general hygiene.

Alongside the screenings, authorities will roll out educational campaigns to raise awareness among vendors and consumers about food safety and preventive practices.

Presiding Member of the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly, Edward Yeligne, also disclosed that sanitation bylaws are being enforced to address the issue. He said stricter measures and intensified awareness campaigns will be introduced in the coming weeks.

He urged residents to support the initiative by actively participating in the reintroduced National Sanitation Day exercise championed by President John Mahama, stressing that a cleaner municipality will reduce the spread of typhoid and other communicable diseases.