1. Ghana Health Service issues Cholera alert
The Ghana Health Service has warned of the possibility of another cholera outbreak due to the lack of refuse dumping sites in the Accra metropolis. The Service says it is worried about the health implications of the improper disposal of waste generated by the estimated four million inhabitants of the capital.
Early this week, Citi News broke news of the piling of refuse in front of several residences in the capital following reports of lack of a permanent and reliable dumping site.
The Waste Service Management companies have expressed worry about the situation saying they are forced to abandon the refuse at various homes.
The Head of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Joseph Amankwa told Citi News a rapid solution is required to rectify the problem.
He says if care is not taken, there could be a major health disaster.
“For us in the health sector, we will point out health issues associated with sanitation and what should be done. And we expect that those who are in charge of protecting the environment also do their bit, and bye-laws must be enforced as far sanitation issues are concerned”.
Inasmuch as Dr. Amankwa wants bye-laws to be enforced, he expects the city authorities to make alternative places available for residents to dump their refuse so they do not litter indiscriminately.
"The problem is that, if you tell me not to use this place or that place, you need to provide an alternative place for me. These are the real issues that affect us. And that brought the cholera outbreak not long ago. The rains have just begun and the likelihood of another outbreak is very high because usually, when there is an outbreak of cholera, a number of people still carry germs and these same people will contaminate our source of water and that’s not very good for us as individuals and as a nation” he noted.
Meanwhile, private waste management firm Zoomlion is resorting to compositing a chunk of waste collected in the capital to mitigate the severe effects that could result from the worsening garbage situation in the country
2. Ghana is on the verge of eradicating guinea worm
Tamale, June 17, GNA - Ghana is on the verge of interrupting the transmission of the guinea worm disease in the country. The Northern Region, which is the most endemic guinea worm area in the country has, for the past 13 consecutive months from May last year to June this year, not reported any cases of the disease since the last eight cases were recorded in January to May 2010.Mr Gilbert Dery, the Northern Regional Coordinator of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, said this at a press briefing in Tamale on Thursday to throw light on the progress the country has so far made in the fight against the disease.
He said the current status of the disease in the region, which was the epic-centre of guinea worm in the country, reflected the same for the whole country adding, 93Technically Ghana has broken free from the guinea worm transmission but this is yet to be officially declared". Mr Dery said although a cash award of GHc 50, instituted to reward people who report cases of suspected guinea worm in their communities, had been increased to GHc 100 no new cases have been reported. He said as a result of the impressive success chalked in the fight against the disease, the Cater Centre would this year wean itself from the guinea worm programme in the country.
Copyright, Blaise APLOGAN, 2010,© Bienvenu sur Babilown
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