The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has rolled out a mass cholera vaccination campaign in Accra to combat a growing outbreak that has infected over 4,000 people across five regions.
The exercise, which begins today, Friday, February 14, aims to immunize more than 300,000 residents in the capital as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.
Ghana is currently grappling with a severe cholera outbreak, with reported cases emerging from the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, Ashanti, and Western regions. The outbreak has already claimed more than 40 lives, prompting urgent intervention from health authorities.
Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through contaminated food and water, causing severe diarrhoea, dehydration, and, in extreme cases, death. Health officials have attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and unhygienic food handling practices.
In response, the government has deployed oral cholera vaccines (OCV) to high-risk communities. The vaccine offers short-term protection and is particularly crucial in areas where access to potable water and sanitation facilities remains inadequate.
Health officials have urged the public to practice good hygiene, ensure proper sanitation, and report symptoms promptly to prevent further spread of the disease.
