Stop charging for use of toilets in health facilities – GHS boss directs health workers

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof Samuel Kaba Akoriyea has directed all Regional Directors to ensure that fees are not charged for use of toilets in health facilities.

This is contained in a circular dated April 16 sighted by 3news.

“Our attention has been drawn to the charging of fees at Ghana Health Service facilities. It must be noted that the washrooms are an integral part of the hospital infrastructure intended to provide comfort for patients and visitors and should not be used as avenues for exploitation,” Prof Samuel Kaba Akoriyea wrote in the circular.

“The washrooms must at all times be kept clean and comfortable to prevent the risk of infection, improve perception of patient care quality and increase patient satisfaction,” he stressed.

“Regional Directors arc accordingly requested to ensure that this practice ceases with immediate effect. Failure by facility heads to adhere to this directive will attract sanctions. Kindly bring this to the notice of all heads of facilities for strict compliance,” Prof Akoriyea directed.

In another development, the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate is urging stronger public messaging and the promotion of hygienic practices across communities to prevent the spread of cholera as the rains set in.

The onset of the rainy season often brings with it a heightened risk of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera.

Flooding contaminates water sources with sewage and waste, creating the perfect conditions for the bacteria that cause cholera to spread.
Ghana recorded its first cholera case in the Greater Accra Region through contaminated food—raising fresh concerns as the rains approach.

Accra Metro, Ada East, Ablekuma Central, Ga South, and Weija Gbawe currently rank among the top five districts in the region with the highest number of cholera cases as of February 25.

Madam Eunice Joan Teah Dzagli,, the Health Promotion Manager at the Greater Accra Regional Health directorate is concerned the public are not getting the right information which will help reduce infections.

“Our focus is zero cholera for this rainy season. And to achieve this, we need all hands on deck. We don’t want to go back to what we experienced in the In November, December, January, we should remember that even if it is one death if it is your family or your relative, you understand the impact,” she stressed.

‘‘We need the media to get in touch when you need information about the disease. Risk communication is very important in this period, and you will end up giving an information that will cause more damage and cannot be taken back,” she added.

Since the outbreak of cholera began in parts of the country last August, a total of 6,145 suspected cases have been reported, with 719 confirmed and 49 lives lost.

With the rains starting to set in, public health concerns are growing, and officials say the key to halting the spread of cholera lies in proper sanitation, community action, and responsible waste management.

The post Stop charging for use of toilets in health facilities – GHS boss directs health workers first appeared on 3News.

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