The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has assured Ghanaians that the government is prepared to procure cholera vaccines should the need arise during any outbreak.
He emphasized that preventive measures remain the most effective way to avoid cholera and typhoid infections amid the floods.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues, Sunday, June 7, the Minister explained that cholera vaccines are not administered indiscriminately in the absence of an active outbreak but are deployed strategically in response to identified public health threats.
“It is not something we administer out of the blue when there is no outbreak,” he stated.
According to the Minister, the government successfully secured cholera vaccine doses last year for use in targeted areas and is currently making arrangements to acquire additional doses as part of ongoing preparedness efforts.
He noted that health authorities remain on standby and are monitoring developments closely to ensure a swift response should an outbreak occur.
“Last year, we managed to get some doses of vaccines to administer in the targeted areas. We are on standby and we are making arrangements because we are in the season to get at least some minimum number of doses so that if the need be,” he said.
The Minister, however, stressed that cholera outbreaks can be prevented if citizens adhere to public health advice and maintain good environmental sanitation practices.
He urged the public to keep their surroundings clean and observe all recommended precautionary measures to reduce the risk transmission.
“But if we are able to take these pieces of advices seriously, these are preventable. If we clean our environment and observe these precautionary measures, I think that we will not get there to even require vaccines,” he stated.
The Minister further assured the public that government has the financial and logistical capacity to procure cholera vaccines should the need arise.
“If we get there, I can assure you that we have the capacity to buy vaccines for our people,” he added.
“We must endeavour to keep our environment clean,” he stressed, underscoring the need for education and public awareness amidst the rainy season often associated with increased public health risks.
Source:Fiilafmonline/3News
