Give cholera national attention — Dr Nortey

THE Head of the Korle-Bu Polyclinic, Dr David Nii Narh Nortey, has called for a national response to the cholera outbreak, since the disease seems to be assuming an alarming rate.
In an answer to a question at this year’s annual performance review meeting held by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra yesterday, Dr Nortey said the epidemic seemed not to subside and, therefore, called for a national approach to it.
He said the polyclinic alone had, since January 2011, taken care of 322 cases, with four deaths, adding that the polyclinic expected more patients, since the problem had not ended.
In his welcoming address at the review meeting, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Nii Otu Nartey, told participants that many of the directors of the hospital were in a meeting over the outbreak of the disease, for which reason they would be late for the review meeting.
He called on the media to intensify education on the disease to stop its spread, since it was deadly.
Prof Nartey, however, pointed out that the best approach under the circumstance was prevention, since the disease could claim the life of an infected person if he or she delayed in getting health care.
Earlier this month, an increase in the reported cases of cholera in the Greater Accra Region prompted the Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to reiterate its warning to residents to observe personal hygiene and also adhere to advice provided by health professionals to curb the outbreak in the region.
In an interview, the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Director of Public Health, Dr Edward Antwi, said, “Although there is an outbreak, it is possible not to get infected,” and advised residents that in case of diarrhoea and or vomiting, the affected person should rush to the nearest healthcare facility for treatment which was free.
Cholera is an acute bacterial disease characterised by profuse diarrhoea and vomiting. Its incubation period is about a minimum of two to 48 hours and a maximum of two to three days.