Health Minister to brief Parliament on cholera, CSM outbreaks

• Posted on February 18, 2025February 18, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, is expected to appear before Parliament today, Tuesday February 18 to brief the house on the public health emergencies in the country.

This follows a request by the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Efutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor subsequently summoned Mr Akandoh to brief the House on the outbreak of cholera and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in parts of the country.

The Minority Leader, whose constituency is one of the disease hotspots, is concerned about efforts being implemented to curtail the spread and protect the lives of his constituents.

The Minister has since the summon, made field trips accompanied by other health officials to the Western, Greater Accra and Central regions to assess the cholera situation. He was also in the Upper West Region to assess the meningitis outbreak situation.

Mr Akandoh will therefore be expected to paint the true picture of the disease outbreaks and efforts being implemented to contain the spread.

Since the outbreak of cholera in Ghana, more than six thousand suspected cases have been recorded with over 500 confirmed. Out of the figure of confirmed cases, the Greater Accra Region has recorded the highest number with over 200 of the cases.

Cholera is a disease gotten from bacteria in contaminated shellfish or water. It can cause mild or severe watery diarrhea that can quickly lead to life-threatening dehydration. It can be fatal if left untreated. It most often spreads in areas without access to clean water or toileting facilities.