La residents sensitised to hygiene and sanitation
Four Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) under the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, have partnered the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to sensitise residents of La in the La-Dadekotopon Municipality in the Greater Accra Region to the prevention of cholera.
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The sensitisation programme which was undertaken together with students from the University of Ghana, Legon, some youth clubs in the La community and some volunteers is expected to continue till the end of September.
The education focused on personal hygiene and sanitation and how residents could combat the disease.
Cholera in La
The La community is one of the hardest hit by the cholera outbreak in the Greater Accra Region.
So far, according to the GHS ,over 1,000 cases had been recorded in the region with 72 deaths as of August 31, 2014.
The four NGOs that spearheaded the sensitisation programme were the Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), Concerned Health Ghana, Christ Soldiers Foundation and GLONA, a community-based organisation (CBO).
The sensitisation team promoted hand washing with soap under running water, the proper disposal of waste and also discouraged the people from engaging in open defecation.
The NGOs, with financial support from Global Communities, formerly CHF International, joined GHS in getting in touch with people who had been in contact with cholera patients and linked them to a health facility.
Door to door sensitisation
They also carried out a series of door- to-door campaigns and distributed several educational materials on cholera, as well as behavioural change and communication (BCC) materials.
The people were also urged to properly wash their hands before cooking their food, after eating and after visiting the washroom. Women were also advised to thoroughly wash their hands after changing their babies’ diapers, and upon their return from any social gathering.
Residents were also advised to keep their surroundings clean to prevent cholera. Food vendors were also entreated to sell hot and covered food in hygienic surroundings to prevent the spread of the disease.
Residents were also advised to take Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) in its prescribed dose, or, in its absence, drink coconut juice and rush immediately to the nearest hospital or health centre for urgent care in case they contracted the disease.