NGO, Assembly to strengthen Cholera prevention

Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), a health centered Non-Governmental Organisation is collaborating with the Sunyani Municipal Assembly to strengthen cholera prevention in the municipality.

According to Mrs Rose Baalaboore, Project Coordinator of HFFG, the more than 1,000 recorded cholera outbreak cases in Brong-Ahafo which killed 26 people last year was unacceptable and preventive measures ought to stepped up to control the disease.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani on Tuesday, the Project Coordinator said the NGO had directed its offices in the various districts, in the Region to ensure that they supported and participated fully in the National Sanitation Day programme.

President John Dramani Mahama instituted the programme, organized nationwide on the first Saturday of every month, and is aimed at keeping the environment clean to control outbreak of communicable diseases.

Mrs Baalaboore expressed concern about the poor participation of the programme in most of the districts in the Region.

She observed that the devastating effects of cholera outbreak was enormous, as the disease had no social class, and appealed to NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, religious bodies and corporate institutions to support in curbing it.

Mrs Baalaboore expressed regret that despite intensified public education on the causes, and effects of cholera, opened defecation and insanitary environment remained a challenge in many rural areas.

She appealed to municipal and district assemblies to supply local communities with dust bins, and provide toilet for those who lacked.

Mrs Baalaboore expressed concern that many people failed to wash their hands after toilet, an attitude, she observed was unhealthy and could lead to cholera infection.

The Project Coordinator commended the government for the introduction of the National Sanitation Day Programme and appealed to Ghanaians to embrace, support and participate in the subsequent clean up exercises.