<<Print>>

President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei has attributed the state's inability to deal with the recent cholera outbreak and many other preventable diseases to the use of political party's manifesto to govern instead of working with long term national policies by the party in power. According to Dr. Opoku-Adusei, every Ghanaian and government institutions are aware of the cause of cholera outbreak, yet little is being done by government to put in place measures to tackle the preventable disease. Highlighting the deficiencies of government institutions to end the cholera outbreak, Dr. Opoku-Adusei sought to know government's action plan to provide good source of drinking water and the provision of toilet facilities to needy areas in the country to halt the outbreak. Stating the status of the cholera outbreak in Ghana, Dr. Opoku-Adusei hinted on Okay Fm�s Ade Akye Abia that out of 12,000 reported cases, 120 cholera patients have died; in spite of the fact that there is a long term national policy to deal with the cholera epidemic. He stressed that it is embarrassing and that while countries like United States of America eradicated cholera in the 18th Century, in Ghana, its outbreak has become an annual ritual and so predictable that people could tell when it would happen. To him, it is disheartening that Ghana is rated 4th in Africa as the most dirtiest country and 2nd in West Africa; insisting that while it is good all Ghanaians including President Mahama become aware of the cholera outbreak, it is equally sad that there is no workable plan to rid the city of Accra off the mountainous refuse heaps. �If we can�t deal with preventable diseases like cholera, then what will happen in this country if Ebola virus attacks us? We need to have national policy for the country that will guide the activities of any government in power and let�s do away with party manifesto that�s ruining our country��there must be maybe 15 years long term national policy for water project in the whole country for every government and maybe another 30 years housing and toilet facilities but until such long measures documented for national purpose, we will continue to suffer when there is an outbreak of any viral disease...there is no national plan that will hold any ruling government accountable, we will continue to suffer like this,� he advised on Okay Fm.