The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has achieved 99 per cent coverage of its target population for the oral cholera vaccination campaign resulting in a decline in new cases, the Director-General, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has said.
“For the past three weeks we have not recorded any death. In some places, we do not even have anyone admitted and at other places where some are on admission, they are very mild and discharged at the end of the day.
We are no more getting a lot of cases. We have been able to achieve over 99 per cent of the vaccination exercise we undertook and this gives us the hope that we have the cholera situation under control,” he disclosed.
Prof. Akoriyea was speaking to journalists in Accra yesterday when non-governmental organisation, World Vision Ghana (WVG) donated 160,000 packets of water purifiers, 450 Veronica buckets and other logistics to the GHS to support the cholera fight.
The DG, while calling for accelerated efforts to improve the sanitation situation across the country, urged the populace not to relent on hand washing and hygiene practices to reduce exposure to the bacteria.
“Should you feel any sign or symptoms, please report to the hospital immediately and it is free of charge once you are on the NHIS until we get the situation absolutely controlled.
We don’t want people to stay at home and come to the hospital late so if you feel anything abnormal or that is suspicious, go quickly to the hospital,” he advised.
Touching on the Meningitis situation also, Prof. Akoriyea said that it was also under control as the Service was strengthening its epidemic preparedness and response systems to tackle any possible resurgence or emergence of new strains.
The Interim National Director of WVG, Jean-Claude Mukadi, expressed his organisation’s commitment to supporting the government efforts at strengthening the health system against public health emergencies.
While urging the GHS to ensure that the donated items were utilised for its intended purposes, the Director appealed to the government to consider granting tax exemptions for “gift-in-kind” items from donor partners.
“Such support will undoubtedly enhance our collaborative efforts to provide quality healthcare and encourage or partners and donors to contribute additional resources toward supplying vital non-medical logistics for the health sector,” he stated.
Ghana, since October last year, has been recording sporadic outbreaks in cholera in parts of the country, affecting regions including Greater Accra, Western, Central, Eastern and Ashanti regions.
As of February 2025, more than 700 cholera cases have been confirmed in the country with about 49 deaths.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.
Symptoms include frequent diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration along with abdominal cramps, fever, headache, fatigue, dry mouth and throat as well as decreased urine output.
Health experts warn that severe cases of cholera can be fatal within hours if left untreated.
The infection is closely linked to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities, typically characteristic of peri-urban areas, slums and camps for displaced persons.
Interventions like oral cholera vaccination complement treatment modules for cholera.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH