We Will Eradicate Cholera In Four Weeks - Deputy Health Minister Assures

Dr. Victor Bampoe The Deputy Minister for Health, Dr. Victor Bamboe has called for a concerted effort between the Health Ministry and the citizenry to curb the Cholera situation in the nation. Speaking in an interview with host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme Kwami Sefa Kayi, the Deputy Health Minister disclosed that government has set up an inter-ministerial Committee to deliberate on issues regarding the spread of Cholera in Ghana. According to him, the disease has been festering in communities for a long period and has therefore necessitated the formation of the inter-ministerial Committee to control its impact. The Inter-ministerial team which comprises of representatives from different public sectors; particularly the Ministry of Local Government, Water Resources, Works and Housing Ministry and the National Disaster Management Organization has been tasked to streamline various areas in "Communication, Water supply, Sanitation and Food hygiene" and the treatment of Cholera. Dr. Victor Bamboe further indicated that Cholera has so far claimed about 163 lives and already approximately 20,000 cases have been recorded in the country. He however confirmed that the Mahama administration has allocated some funds for the treatment of the disease. He also revealed that "in the next four weeks to five weeks", the Cholera outbreak will be completely eradicated. He therefore urged all Ghanaians to collectively check their living conditions and environment to prevent the spread of the disease. Touching on the Ebola scare in Africa, Dr. Victor Bamboe said the government will continue to raise awareness about the causes and symptoms of the virus as well as its preventive method. He noted that currently there are no cases of the deadly Ebola virus recorded in Ghana but it has been found in other countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and other neighbouring countries. This therefore, to him, calls for stringent measures to prevent the disease from having roots in the country. He proposed that there should be high public education, active surveillance and border control to check the disease and advised Teaching Hospitals in the country to set up isolation facilities to treat Ebola and any other related infectious diseases. Dr. Bamboe also sought to allay the fears of Ghanaians, hence stressing that Ebola is "highly infectious disease but not highly contagious" as many people believe.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana