Cholera vaccination exercise starts today

By Ernest Bako WUBONTO

The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with its partners and on behalf of the Ministry of Health (MoH), has launched a vaccination campaign against cholera to curb the ongoing outbreak and prevent its further spread.

The vaccination exercise, scheduled to run from Thursday, December 19 to Sunday, December 22, 2024, targets all individuals aged one year and above in the affected communities within the Central, Greater Accra and Western Regions. However, GHS is urging other regions and communities to be on alert and ensure preventive measures to curb any outbreak.

Statistics from the GHS confirmed that 21 people have died within two months from cholera outbreak. 17 districts have, so far, recorded cases of cholera with about 116 cholera cases confirmed.

The outbreak’s epicentre in the Central Region includes three hotspot sub-districts in the Awutu Senya East: Akwelley, Kasoa North and Odupong Kpehe.

In the Western Region, where 14 fatalities have been recorded so far, the epicentre of the crisis is Sekondi-Takoradi and its adjoining districts, Shama and Ahanta West.

The GHS, in its key message for social mobilisation, stated that it has deployed trained vaccination teams to conduct house-to-house visits and operate at designated centres in affected communities to vaccinate all individuals aged one year and above.

“Caregivers and all community members within affected district and communities, should look out for the vaccination teams or visit the nearest vaccination centre for vaccination,” GHS stated. It added that the vaccine is safe, effective and free.

The general public is also advised to note that the cholera vaccine does not replace other preventive interventions; hence, the need to continue other practices such as frequent washing of hands with soap under running water before eating, cooking or after visiting the toilet; drinking safe water; always eat hot food and keep clean surroundings.

“Remember, Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection that can kill within hours if not treated promptly. Get yourself and family vaccinated against cholera now,” it urged.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that occurs after ingestion of food or water contaminated with the cholera bacterium known as Vibrio Cholerae.

Cholera is a disease linked to personal hygiene, poor environmental sanitation and lack of access to potable water. It affects both children and adults.

Oral cholera vaccination is an essential intervention to reduce the risk of the spread of cholera in this community. The vaccine is given as drops in the mouth.

So far, over 150,000 people have been successfully vaccinated in Ghana. This vaccine has proven to be effective at reducing the number of outbreaks and saving lives.

Signs and symptoms of cholera

An infected person usually shows symptoms between 12 hours and five days. These symptoms include diarrhoea, which is effortless, profuse, painless and watery. Others are vomiting, abdominal pains, tiredness, thirst, general weakness and dehydration – loss of bodily fluids which occurs rapidly and that may lead to death.

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