The Western Regional Health Directorate has attributed the alarming rise in cholera cases to poor hygiene practices by individuals and food vendors.
As of December 12, the outbreak has claimed 15 lives, hospitalised several others, and recorded 1,347 suspected cases.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, the Western Regional Environmental Health Expert Oliver Cromwell disclosed that the region’s poor personal hygiene and environmental conditions have contributed to the outbreak.
Mr. Cromwell noted that people are not washing their hands regularly, and refuse is scattered all over the metropolis, with food vendors selling near refuse dumps.
Food vendors, particularly those selling vegetables, have been instructed to cease operations due to their role in spreading the disease.
Mr. Cromwell stated that despite sensitization and training efforts since November 4, vendors were not adhering to proper hygiene practices, leading to a temporary ban.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting inspections to assess sanitation conditions within the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.
He said, “What we’ve seen is poor personal hygiene, people aren’t washing their hands well in the Western Region and poor environment with refuse all over the Metropolis. People are selling around refuse dumps. When it comes to food vendors, they also contributed to it through the vegetables and others.”
“If they are not keeping the vegetables clean, they are not washing it clean, they do it anyhow. They has been sensitisation and training for food vendors since November 4. Initially they were not adhering to it so we needed to ban it for some time and see the progress but now there’s enforcement in whatever we are doing.”
