The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and its partners, has announced a targeted Phase II vaccination campaign against cholera for all residents within the community.
The campaign is scheduled to begin from Thursday, December 19 to Sunday, December 22, 2024. It will target all individuals aged 1 year and above from the acute diarrheal infection.
Per GHS news release, as part of this critical health intervention, trained vaccination teams will operate house-to-house visits, and establish designated vaccination centers across the community. It encouraged to watch for these teams or visit their nearest vaccination center to ensure they and their families receive the vaccine.
According to the release, the cholera vaccine was safe, effective, free, and will be administered orally as drops in the mouth. GHS stressed that it was an essential measure to safeguard public health, particularly in light of recent concerns regarding cholera outbreaks. Despite the availability of the vaccine, the GHS emphasised that vaccination alone did not replace existing preventive measures.
Precautionary measures
It called on all community members to continue observing these precautions to avoid cholera infection such as regular handwashing with soap under running water, particularly before eating, cooking, or after visiting the toilet.
It also advised residents to continue drinking safe water at all times, ensuring food is eaten hot and prepared under hygienic conditions, and maintaining clean surroundings to avoid contamination.
In a statement, health authorities underscored the urgency of this campaign, highlighting cholera as an acute diarrheal infection that can cause severe dehydration and death within hours if untreated. It said the outbreak potential and rapid spread of cholera necessitate swift and collective preventive actions to mitigate its impact.
It encouraged caregivers, parents, and all community members to prioritize their health by getting vaccinated during the campaign period.
“This vaccination campaign is a crucial opportunity for our community to protect itself against cholera. The vaccine, combined with proper hygiene practices, can save lives and prevent unnecessary illness,” the GHS noted in the news release update. “Get yourself and your family vaccinated against cholera now,” it advised.
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