The Minority in Parliament has observed that the nation’s health infrastructure is constrained in efforts to mitigate the recent cholera outbreak in some parts of the country.
According to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament, the outbreak recorded in Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions is likely to become a national pandemic if immediate measures are not rolled out to contain the spread.
This comes after the Western Regional Health Directorate commmenced a cholera vaccination of residents in the Sekondi-Takoradi, Effia-Kwesimintsim, Shama and Ahanta West areas, to curb the spread of cholera which has overwhelmed health facilities and affected communities.
The death toll in the region has risen to 16 since the epidemic began.
Speaking to the media, Minority Spokesperson on Health, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh noted that the poor working conditions of health professionals coupled with significant underfunding have demonstrated that the government has been unprepared to deal with the epidemic.
“Several regions across the country, the alarming rates of death linked to cholera infection clearly point to the broader neglect of Ghana’s health sector. Poor working conditions for healthcare workers have led to the high attrition rates, while a lack of essential medical consumables have hampered the treatment of admitted patients.
“Unfortunately, inefficiencies in the distribution of these vital resources have created significant bottlenecks, undermining effective case management in the outbreak zones. Many health facilities have been pushed to the brink, with administrators now resorting to appeals for assistance from corporate organizations and individual philanthropies to secure essential supplies such as fluids and bedding for critically ill patients.
“This dire situation clearly shows the administration’s failure to adequately prepare for and respond to public health emergencies,” he said in prepared remarks.
The Juaboso MP charged the government to adequately resource healthcare workers in order to enable them work to address the looming healthcare crisis.
“The Minority urges government to act swiftly and decisively to address these challenges by ensuring resources are adequately allocated and healthcare workers are provided with the support they need to contain the outbreak,” he said.
