Cholera & Sanitation in Ghana

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Joycelyn Larbie Walden University PUBH 6165 August 1 st , 2014 Instructor: Dr. Thron

OBJECTIVES

 Define/Overview of Cholera  Epidemic on Cholera in Ghana  Signs & Symptoms, complication, risk factors, causes, treatments, and prevention  Ways of controlling the spread of Cholera  Target: General Population

PURPOSE

 To increase awareness of preventive measures to reduce cholera  To increase the knowledge on sanitation

OVERVIEW OF CHOLERA

 Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera  An estimated 3-5 million cholera cases and 100,000 – 120,000 deaths occur annually  Incubation period of 6 hours to 5 days  The outbreaks are spread over 40-50 countries.

HOW CHOLERA SPREADS

(Source: adapted from AMREF, 2007,

Communicable Diseases Distance Education Program

, Unit 11)

POOR SANITATION

Large proportions of urban residents in Ghana live in unplanned communities and receive poor services. Water and sanitation coverage in the country is low (approximately 61% and 40% respectively) and only 19% of Ghana’s urban population has access to an improved source of sanitation .

http://www.ghananewsagency.org/health/government-institutes policies-to-improve-sanitation--76307 http://www.ghanadistricts.com/images/sublinkphotos/social_ 16_em.jpg

SYMPTOMS OF CHOLERA

• Profuse painless watery diarrhea without fever • Vomiting of clear fluids • Dehydration • Rapid heart rate • Restlessness or Irritability (especially in children) • Dry mucous membrane Rice-water stool from a patient

SEVERE DEHYDRATION OF CHOLERA

Very sunken eyes Skin pinch goes back very slowly

http:// healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/cholera-3 /

Drinks poorly or unable to drink

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TREATMENT

• Seek Medical HELP URGENTLY • Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) - 80% of cases can be treated with ORS gets better - It should be used during and after IV therapy • Antibiotics • prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts.

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IMMUNIZATION FOR CHOLERA

• Vaccination • Injectable Cholera Vaccine • Oral Cholera Vaccine: - There are two types that gives good protection for up to3years - But doesn’t give 100% protection. Hygiene and sanitary precautions should be applied.

- Given 2 doses for those above 6 years old and 3 does for those 2-6 years old, 7 days to 6 weeks apart.

COMPLICATIONS

• Low blood sugar; unusually result in seizures, unconsciousness • Low potassium levels; due to loss of large quantities of minerals can interfere with heart and nerve function • Kidney failure • Shock • Coma • Death

CHOLERA PREVENTION

• Drink only properly treated water • Avoid ice unless you are sure it’s from sate water source • Always eat foods that is well cooked and always served hot • Avoid raw seafood and other raw food • Always wash your hands before preparing food, work, and after the use of sanitary facilities.

SITUATION IN GHANA (1)

 In March 2011, Accra recorded 4,190 cases and 36 deaths.  Between June and July 2014, Greater Accra region recorded a toal of 878 cases; out of this number, 604 cases and eight deaths were reported in the Accra metroplosis alone.  Poor sanitation, over population, and scarcity of clean drinking water are the primary reasons Retrieved from: http://photos.myjoyonline.com/photos/news/201111/832998586_175714.jpg

SITUATION IN GHANA (2)

 General deplorable state of latrines & urinals  lack of hand washing facilities  inadequate and poor storage of drinking water & inappropriate refuse disposal  31% of school children lack access to safe drinking water, whilst 78% do not have access to good sanitation

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

• Target investment to the poorest community • Allocate higher investment to sanitation • Priorities elimination of open defecation • More awareness for the people

PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

The government of Ghana has developed: - Ghana Water, Sanitation and Hygiene ( GWASH) project - Awareness and preventative measures teaching - Develop short and long term multi-sectoral plan - National Cholera prevention and control plan - National Task Force



CONCLUSION

Wash your hands before cooking, before eating and after using the restroom  Cook food and drink safe water  Go to the health facility as soon as possible in case of any acute watery diarrhea.

REFERENCES

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Cholera. Retrieved on August 2, 2014 from http://cdc.gov/cholera/disease.html

WHO. (2014). Cholera. Retrieved on July 31, 2014 from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets Ghana Government. (2014). Cholera Outbreak In Ghana by Hon. Deputy Minister of Health. Retrieved on August 2, 2014 from http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php

Guillaume C., Bernard C., Jean G. (2006) Cholera Threat to Humans in Ghana Is Influenced by Both Global and Regional Climatic Variability. Ecohealth Journal Consortium 2006 10.1007/s10393-006-0061-5 Frank B. Osei. Spatial statistics epidemic data: the case of cholera epidemiology in Ghana. PhD thesis, 2010

QUESTIONS!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your attention!