Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has commenced an assessment of flood-affected communities in Accra to identify potential health risks and prevent outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid fever and malaria following recent heavy rains.
The exercise, which forms part of government’s post-flood response measures, focused on evaluating environmental conditions, sanitation challenges and the risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases in vulnerable communities.
Accompanied by officials from the Accra Metropolitan Health Directorate, the Minister visited Adawnaa, Achimota and Alogboshie, where residents and traders were educated on measures to protect themselves from health threats associated with flooding.
Residents were advised to drink only safe water, maintain proper personal hygiene, avoid direct contact with contaminated floodwater, sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets and seek prompt medical attention when they experience symptoms of illness.
The Minister assured the public that government has strengthened preparedness efforts by supplying health facilities with essential medicines, medical supplies and other logistics to support a rapid response in the event of any disease outbreak.
He also announced plans to deploy public health nurses and community health workers to affected areas to intensify health education, promote sanitation practices and improve disease surveillance.
The Ministry of Health is urging residents to keep their surroundings clean, support efforts to clear blocked drains where possible and immediately report suspected cases of cholera and other infectious diseases to the nearest health facility as the rainy season continues.
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Source: www.kumasimail.com
