I watched intently as he sat down to show himself to the whole world. A press conference had been called in his honour to showcase himself and to tell of his experience to the world, and why not? After all, was he not one of the few people to have survived the deadly Ebola virus disease?
With a polite smile like a rictus firmly carved onto his weary face, 29-year-old Will Pooley, a nurse volunteer to Sierra Leone, where he contracted the virus, recounted his experience from his symptomatology through when he was woken up after the blood tests by a fully gowned doctor, signifying his infectious state, his mental anguish of impending death and finally to the realisation that he is free of the virus now.
Then I cast my mind back to the news item the day before on an Ebola patient who had broken through the isolation units in search of food in Liberia. His eyes almost black revealing an impersonal hatred of the world in which he lives, a world that is rapidly crushing down on him, wondering what the future holds for him. What an unfair world!
According to wikipedia, the current epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa began in Guinea in December 2013, but was not detected until March 2014, after which it spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal, claiming over 1900 lives in its wake and counting.
As of September 3, six clear months after EVD started spreading among West African states, an isolation centre in Tema is reported to be almost 80 per cent complete, indicating our preparedness to deal with the epidemic...... and that is news!
Disease of filth
But the purpose of this article is not about EVD. It is about something that keeps recurring every year. Yes cholera! a well-known disease of filth. Simply put, cholera is acquired only after eating somebody's excreta.
John Snow, as far back as 1854, was able to establish the epidemiological importance of cholera when he identified the source of cholera outbreak- contaminated Broad Street water pump. Since then, the causative agent- Vibrio cholerae, how it causes the disease, transmission modalities, how to treat and more importantly, how to prevent this disease has been well elucidated.
As to why we continue to record cholera epidemics on a yearly basis, only cast grave judgement on our health system, particularly the preventive aspect. We have always known that the rains come with cholera outbreaks but with faces of stone, we seem to have resigned ourselves to this yearly onslaught as a normal occurrence.
What is obvious is that, rains are not limited only to Ghana. In fact, London witnessed arguably, one of its worst flooding this year but there was no recorded case of cholera. They had learned from Dr Snow's study and had put in measures, measures that are long lasting and have been upheld up till date.
One does not have to rack his brains to identify reasons for this yearly ritual of cholera. Lack of proper waste disposal systems, non-enforcement of laws on environment and toilet systems, lack of political will to enforce its own laws are but a few causes.
Primitive waste disposal system
What can possibly account for the way disposal of sewage is done at the Lavender Hill in the 21st century? What is even more intriguing is that this primitive waste disposal system has the blessing of the authorities. Even more bizarre is our deliberate tolerance of the suffocating well- built, modern sewage treatment plant barely a minute’s drive away.
That is how come I find it very disturbing to see the President, the number one gentleman of the land, going down into the gutters to help clean them. That, this has not, and will not work, is evidenced by the fact that previous Presidents, decades ago had done it but the problem still persists. What is even more baffling is that the man tasked to keep the city clean looked on and cheered the President. What he should be doing is busily penning down his resignation for letting down not only the President, but the good people of Ghana. And the converse should hold for the President too— relieving him of a job poorly done as a way of making people pay the price for their bad stewardship.
l strongly hold the view that the presidency should not to be reduced to such gimmicks. It may make the President look good in the short term, and possibly make few political gains but is it sustainable? Should President Sirleaf-Johnson be helping to clean the isolation sites or source of infection as a way of showing she cares for the people in Liberia? And should our President be allowed to help clean isolation centres should the nation be hit by the Ebola scourge? That is why he has the mandate to appoint people to help him — people who should be made to account for their stewardship!
Preventive measures
Cogent measures to contain and to avoid further breakouts of cholera must be put in place. Enforcement of laws about proper waste and sewerage disposal must be done to the letter. Punitive measures must leave indelible marks to deter would-be offenders. It makes no sense to construct gutters and leave them open. It is bound to be clogged with rubbish, especially so when there is practically nothing barring people from littering the streets apart from moral pleas — pleas that nobody heeds.
The knee-jerk, fire fighting approach to dealing with issues must stop. I hope there is no truth in the news about barring food vendors from selling on the street as a way of controlling cholera. Why waste the public's ear over things that cannot be done? That news item could have been admonishing people to warm up foods bought from vendors before eating and that would have made a greater impact in our quest to subdue this outbreak.
What could be fuelling the outbreak is the frequent cut of water supply, leading people to resort to drinking contaminated and untreated water. Let us channel our energies into ensuring constant supply of clean water and we surely will reduce the number of cholera cases.
If we are struggling to control cholera, a disease that is well understood, easy to treat and, easy to prevent, then we must all go on our knees to pray for Ebola to not visit our shores. I need not speculate on the repercussions, the writings, I believe, are on the wall for all to see.
• The writer is a member of the Ghana Medical Association
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