Cholera and typhoid cases are on the rise in flood-affected communities – Public Health Practitioner

Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has stated that it has rescued around 12,000 people in the flood crisis in Mepe and other areas of the Volta Region caused by the release of water from the Akosombo Dam since October 13, 2023. GAF said that as of Sunday, October 22, the flood situation in Mepe, the hamlet worst hit by the leakage, was under control. GAF made the statement while refuting allegations that military forces sent to Mepe for humanitarian relief operations had been removed. The military had been requested to leave the village, according to North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Abraham Norman Nortey, a Public Health Practitioner, has disclosed that water-borne infections are on the rise in the areas affected by the flood caused by water released from the Akosombo Dam.

He claimed that while people are not drinking the water, they are cooking and bathing in it, resulting in an increase in cholera and typhoid cases.

On Monday, October 23, Mr Norman Nortey remarked on 3FM’s Sunrise show, “Our team has been involved in diligent monitoring and evaluation of the situation.” Our field reports show an alarming increase in the incidence of water-borne infections including cholera and typhoid.

“Amazingly, the Ministry has responded to some of these issues and the government as a whole has also set up an inter-ministerial committee to be able to oversee these issues.”

He added, “There have been other NGOs, individuals, and personnel that have come to donate to these individuals but still the issue has to do with the fact that when this spillage occurred most of their latrines got submerged in this river and these individuals are bathing with this same water, they are cooking with this same water, they are not drinking the water though they are bathing and at the same time cooking with it and this has a lot of public health issue.”

Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has stated that it has rescued around 12,000 people in the flood crisis in Mepe and other areas of the Volta Region caused by the release of water from the Akosombo Dam since October 13, 2023.

GAF said that as of Sunday, October 22, the flood situation in Mepe, the hamlet worst hit by the leakage, was under control.

GAF made the statement while refuting allegations that military forces sent to Mepe for humanitarian relief operations had been removed.

The military had been requested to leave the village, according to North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

“Who ‘above’ has given orders to the military detachment helping us cross flood waters to immediately withdraw when the water levels haven’t receded and when thousands of lives are at stake in camps across these waters?”

“Who in government is behind this utter cruelty?” He tweeted.

Mr Ablakwa, on the other hand, wrote in another tweet, “I just received a call indicating that the order has been reversed and that the soldiers have been directed to return with their boats and resume duty.”

“Soon, we shall fish out those faceless, unpatriotic elements.”

Reacting to this development in a statement, the GAF stated categorically that “the information in circulation is inaccurate and that the personnel have not been given any ‘orders from above’ to withdraw from Mepe or any other community affected by the spillage, contrary to the social media posts.

“It must be emphasised that the Humanitarian Relief Operations (Operation Boafo), being
conducted by the Ghana Navy’s Riverine Command and the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Army is being executed in phases. As of 22 October 2023, the situation in Mepe has been brought under considerable control and therefore it became necessary to urgently redeploy some personnel and equipment to other distressed communities around Battor and its environs, which were in dire need of support.

“Following the deployment of additional personnel and equipment to these distressed communities, the operations being conducted have been varied to suit the evolving situation. It must be placed on record that for the purpose of this operation, GAF has established an Emergency Operations Centre which is coordinating all the GAF activities in a harmonised manner in conjunction with NADMO.

“Currently, personnel of the Naval Riverine Command and the Army’s 48 Engineer Regiment are still deployed and conducting the relief operations (Operation Boafo) in accordance with the exigencies of the situation, at Mepe, Battor, Sogakope, Adidome, Aveyime, New Bakpa, Big Ada, Ada Foah and the surrounding communities.These personnel are equipped with 10 Naval Boats and four (four) Engineer Assault Boats. From 13 October 2023 till date, GAF has rescued about 12,000 persons.”