Tema: Mr. Edwin Afotey Ablade Odai, the Tema Metro Disease Control Officer, has issued a warning to the public against self-medicating when experiencing symptoms of cholera. Mr. Odai emphasized that seeking prompt medical attention is crucial, as self-medicating can result in fatal outcomes.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Odai made these remarks during a stakeholders' engagement organized by the Tema Metro Health Directorate aimed at strategizing on how to curb the spread of cholera. He explained the dangers of cholera and diarrhoea, highlighting the risk of death due to the rapid loss of fluid and electrolytes from the body if immediate medical care is not sought.
The disease control officer also pointed out the highly infectious nature of cholera. He noted that individuals could carry and spread the infectious bacterium without showing symptoms themselves, posing a significant risk to others. He particularly emphasized the role of food vendors in the potential transmission of cholera, urging the environmental health department to enforce strict hygiene and handwashing practices among them.
Providing statistics on the cholera situation in the Greater Accra Region as of January 17, 2025, Mr. Odai revealed that 164 confirmed cases had been recorded across 18 districts. Out of these, 12 individuals had died, resulting in a case fatality rate of 0.93 percent. He detailed that the deaths were distributed among several districts, with Ada East accounting for two deaths, and Accra Metro recording the highest with four fatalities.
Mr. Odai further highlighted that while the majority of confirmed cases were among individuals aged 21-30, the age group of 31-40 experienced the highest death toll, with four deaths. Cholera, he reminded the public, is an acute diarrhoeal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacteria Vibrio cholerae.
