The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, on Thursday, February 13, 2025 joined the residents of Effutu for a massive clean-up exercise in communities along the coast of the Municipality as part of efforts to curb the rising cases of cholera which have claimed three lives.The cholera outbreak in the Effutu Municipality had as at Wednesday, February 12, 2025, recorded 412 suspected cases with 36 confirmed cases and 3 deaths, a situation health officials describe as alarming and have urged for swift emergency interventions to contain the spread and curb the situation. The Exercise which was organized by the Effutu Municipal Assembly in conjunction with the Municipal Health Directorate commenced in the early hours of Thursday, from Copa Junction through Nkwantanan, Eyipe, Penkye, Ponkorkyir, to Alatakokodo , saw the team made up of Assembly Members, staff of the Effutu Municipal Assembly, Security Services including the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service, National Investigation Bureau(NIB), Metro Guards, as well as Sanitation workers, cleaning, sweeping and clearing choked gutters.The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere whiles addressing the residents charged them to prioritize good sanitation practices to promote a healthy environment and lifestyle in the area.He stated that, the President John Mahama led administration was committed to rolling out environmentally friendly policies aimed at improving the sanitation situation to help contain the spread as well as curb environment- related diseases such as the cholera outbreak.Citing open defecation as a major driver of cholera outbreak, the Regional Minister appealed to the people to adhere to good sanitation and hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the cholera disease.Hon. Eduamoah Panyin underscored the need to invest in programmes to intensify the awareness creation on environmental health and sanitation to build the consciousness level of the people for a healthy. lifestyle. He stated that the commitment to community clean-up efforts stems from people’s understanding of the causes of cholera. According to him, it is imperative for Ghanaians to unite in the quest to implement effective strategies that will significantly reduce environmental hazards and promote public health. Hon. Eduamoah Panyin admonished the authorities of the Effutu Municipal Assembly to strictly enforce sanitation related Bi- Laws to enhance the maintenance of good sanitation practices in the area.The Minister later visited health facilities in the Municipality where suspected and confirmed cholera patients are being held and treated. He engaged the health officials to ascertain the challenges being faced as efforts are made to contain the spread of the disease in the area.
STORY BY: CHARLES BAAH ABOAGYE, MONICA WONSEE & ERICA SERWAA MENSAH – ISD
Last modified: February 13, 2025
