Cholera remains a significant public health concern in Ghana, with recurring outbreaks linked to poor sanitation and hygiene practices.
The Health Promotion Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate, Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin has educated the public on the disease, its transmission, prevention, and management.
“Cholera is a bacterial infection. It’s an acute one. Suddenly, you see that maybe you start having diarrhea, and then you start vomiting indiscriminately. Without proper care, it can escalate and get worse. Some [people] will start experiencing shock.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer , Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
The disease spreads primarily through the ingestion of contaminated food and water, with environments of poor sanitation being the epicenter of its outbreaks.
“Where there is poor sanitation—rubbish here and there, open defecation, stuff like that—and not having good drinking water, cholera thrives.’’
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer , Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
Cholera is highly contagious and can spread quickly within communities, particularly those with poor hygiene practices.
“Once people have the infection and they don’t wash their hands well, they start leaving the pathogen on surfaces—even with the money that we have, you know, money passes through a lot of hands.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer, Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
She added that even Ghana’s currency notes and coins can harbor bacteria if handled improperly, stressing the importance of personal hygiene. She reiterated; “This is why washing hands properly is very important.’’
To curb the spread of cholera, Ms. Buahin highlighted the necessity of adhering to safety protocols.
“We should all have in mind that we have the bacteria around us. The only way we can break the infection is by doing the safety protocols we are talking about—washing hands, eating hot food, and ensuring food is prepared under hygienic conditions.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer , Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
She emphasized the importance of maintaining hygienic practices, especially during festive seasons when gatherings and food sharing increase.
“Foods will be served. Before you get to the food, you might have shaken hands with people. At least wash your hands. If you can’t and its finger food, use a toothpick or tissue.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer , Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
Communities must also address systemic issues such as open defecation. Ms. Buahin advised;
“We’ve taught them that if you have to do open defecation, make sure you dig and then you bury so that we don’t expose our community members to infections.
“The most at-risk group is someone who doesn’t wash their hands. Some people use the washroom, do number two, and don’t wash their hands. Others open the tap with no soap and they are gone.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer, Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
Travelers are another vulnerable group, particularly those visiting regions. She emphasized;
“We know that some parts of the country are endemic with cholera. Even in African countries, people may have gone to other places and contracted the disease, some of our cases even came from Nigeria.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
She described the early signs of cholera and then she cautioned against ignoring early symptoms.
“The diarrhea for cholera is like rice water. Once you see it, we say the first thing you have to do is to rehydrate. Drink enough water, get coconuts or anything that can hydrate you, and then seek medical attention.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer , Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
She discouraged self-medication, especially the use of anti-diarrheal medications like Imodium, which can complicate treatment.
Management and Access to Treatment
Cholera is curable when treated promptly. Ms. Buahin urged individuals experiencing symptoms to seek immediate medical care.
For additional information, she recommended visiting any local clinic or accessing resources from the Ghana Health Service website.
Ms. Buahin highlighted ongoing vaccination campaigns in the Western Region.
“The reason we are doing the vaccination there is because of the cases we are recording. We want our people who are around there to actively participate in it. It will protect every one of us if we get the vaccines.”
Ms. Jennifer Adubea Buahin Health Promotion Officer, Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate
As Ghana approaches the festive season, Ms. Buahin reminded the public of the importance of vigilance.
By adhering to hygiene protocols, ensuring the safety of food and water, and participating in vaccination programs, the spread of cholera can be significantly curtailed.
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