No cholera in 2020 -GHS Director

Despite the many shocks the country experienced from the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), the government’s team on COVID-19 says the country has made some gains.

According to Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, the country has not recorded a single case of cholera within the year 2020.

He attributed this success to the adherence to hygienic practices, especially the washing of hands instituted by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic.

“We have not recorded any case of cholera this year. Adherence to hygienic practices has contributed to the reduction in diarrheal diseases and the prevention of cholera outbreak this year.”

Dr Kuma-Aboagye made this known at the Nation Building Updates programme held at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra yesterday.

The programme, which was hinged on the theme: “Protecting Lives and Livelihoods in the Midst of Crisis,” was to inform Ghanaians about how the government tackled the pandemic and other steps that were being put in place to ensure the disease is eliminated completely.

The Director-General also indicated that some communicable diseases, as well as maternal mortality, have reduced as a result of the wearing nose and face mask, hence, the practice of washing hands and wearing of face and nose masks.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye also said the reduction in non-communicable diseases is a good sign, since it is a key factor in reducing Covid-19 related deaths.

Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health, also indicated that about eighty percent of the people who lost their lives due to the Covid-19 were hypertensive and diabetic, so it is very critical that the issue of non-communicable disease is tackled.

He stated that the government would now sink a lot of resources into ensuring the prevention of such diseases.

He indicated that the National Health Insurance Scheme was going to be run in a way that will enable people to check their status regarding hypertension and diabetes on regular bases for early detection and treatment.

He said the government would do its possible best to protect lives and turn the crisis being faced by the country as a result of Covid-19 into opportunities.

The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, also advised Ghanaians to continue observing the measures put in place to contain the virus. He said that the fact that the government had eased restrictions does not mean Covid-19 is no more.

He said the President and his people had fought hard to bring the country to where it is now, and Ghanaians must corroborate that effort by observing measures put in place to contain the disease.

“Easing restrictions does not mean Covid-19 is no more. The battle is not over yet. Ghanaians must know how hard the President has fought and do their part as well.”

The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, also made known to the audience on some initiatives his ministry had put in place to augment the President’s effort at fighting the disease.

He said the ministry created heavy public awareness, as well as a website, that provided information on the Covid-19 regularly. This dealt with all misinformations, miscommunications and falsehoods that were bound to happen from the traditional and new media platforms.

He commended the Ghanaian media for the yeoman’s job they did during the peak of the disease, and urged them to do more.

Going forward, the Minister said the disease was still lingering on, hence, more of such measures would be employed to corroborate the government’s efforts.

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