The Deputy Western Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Kofi Asomaning, has disclosed that a total of 87 suspected cases of cholera had been recorded in seven districts in the region as at the end of August this year.
He said out of the number, 25 had been confirmed as having the disease with one person dead.
Dr Asomaning made the revelation in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Takoradi. He said out of the total number of confirmed cases, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis had the highest number of 14 patients, followed by Ellembele with five out of which one had already died.
He said there was a reported case each in Ahanta West, Wassa East, Nzema East and Shama districts, while in the Prestea Huni-Valley district two persons had been registered as having the disease.
He, however, gave an assurance that the situation was under control. He described cholera as a disease contracted from insanitary conditions, and added that �those who contracted the disease might have eaten food or drunk liquid with traces of faecal matter in them.�
He said traders who sold around the popular Takoradi Market Circle were at risk of contracting the disease considering the insanitary conditions in which they operated.
Under the circumstances, Dr Asomaning has called on the city authorities to immediately rid the market area of filth. He advised that the environment be kept clean at all times and further encouraged residents to keep proper personal hygiene, including washing their hands with soap at frequent intervals and eating warm foods.
The Deputy Regional Director of Health Services said with the assistance of the National Rapid Response teams and support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), all health centres in the region were ready to handle any escalation of the spread of the cholera disease.
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