GHS launches cholera vaccination campaign to combat outbreaks

The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with its partners, has announced a community-wide vaccination campaign to protect against cholera, a potentially fatal diarrheal disease. The campaign, which begins on Thursday, December 19, 2024, and runs until Sunday, December 22, 2024, targets all individuals aged one year and above within designated districts.

Trained vaccination teams will go door-to-door and set up at designated centers such as schools, churches, mosques, markets, and lorry parks to administer the oral vaccine. The cholera vaccine is administered as drops in the mouth, is safe, and is offered free of charge. Caregivers and community members are encouraged to welcome vaccination teams or visit the nearest center to ensure everyone eligible is vaccinated. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women are not eligible for the vaccine.

GHS emphasizes that vaccination is only one layer of protection against cholera. To prevent infection, individuals are advised to wash their hands frequently with soap under running water, especially before eating, cooking, or after using the toilet. People should also drink only safe, clean water and boil it if its safety is uncertain. Eating freshly cooked hot food and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables with potable water before consumption is essential. Maintaining clean surroundings and proper waste disposal is also crucial in cholera prevention.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It can lead to rapid dehydration and death within hours if untreated. Common symptoms include profuse watery diarrhea resembling “rice-water,” vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, and severe dehydration, which can be fatal.

The oral cholera vaccine offers rapid protection in outbreak-prone areas and significantly reduces the risk of severe diarrheal disease. It works best when combined with improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Ghana’s phased cholera vaccination program has successfully immunized over 150,000 people in districts experiencing outbreaks. The vaccine, alongside improved sanitation and access to potable water, has proven effective in controlling outbreaks and saving lives. The Ghana Health Service urges all eligible individuals to get vaccinated and continue practicing proper hygiene to prevent cholera outbreaks. Cholera is preventable and treatable, and by getting vaccinated and observing good sanitation practices, individuals can protect themselves and their communities from this life-threatening disease.