Joyce Ofori Akyea, Deputy Director of Nursing Services, receiving the items from Tobinco officials on behalf of La General Hospital.
Ninety-Two deaths thus far and counting have been recorded across seven regions of Ghana excluding the three northern regions due to the cholera epidemic.
About 11,000 cases of cholera have been reported since the outbreak during the latter part of April, this year.
In Accra where more cases have been recorded according to health officials, majority of the cases are being recorded from areas like Madina, Teshie, Nungua, Osu, Art Centre, La, Amasaman, James Town, Agbogbloshie, Korle Gonno, Dansoman, among others.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has, as part of measures to bring the situation under control, dispatched more cholera drugs to hospitals across the country.
Following a recent directive by President John Mahama and a request by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, to the MoH to supply hospitals in the metropolis with anti-cholera medication, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Victor Bampoe, on Tuesday presented 1660 boxes of anti-cholera solution and 1,000 ringer lactate injections to the La General Hospital in Accra to combat the disease.
Officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) are also expected to arrive in the country anytime this week to carry out an assessment of two oral cholera vaccines that could possibly be used in stopping the epidemic.
Statistics
Giving an overview of the cholera situation in the region over the last eight years on Friday in Accra, Dr Van-Otoo stated that in 2007, only seven cases were recorded with no death.
By 2008, the recorded cases had shot up to 823 with no death reported.
In 2009 however, there were 431 cases with 12 deaths; 2010 had seven cases with no death.
The current epidemic is similar to the one that struck the country in 2011, where over 9,000 cases were recorded with 72 deaths.
In 2012, cholera cases grossed close to 7,000 cases with 48 deaths; 2013 recorded 22 cases with no death.
Dr Van-Otoo disclosed that 50 percent of the cases were coming from the sub-metros, adding that ‘most people who are dying are the active ones who are in the working age group.’
BY Melvin Tarlue & Christiana Mpra Agyei
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