The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, extend immediate support to the Winneba health directorate to help contain the cholera outbreak in the coastal town.
He said the situation at the cholera treatment centre of the Winneba Government Hospital was not “a palatable scene” as the entire facility was faced with acute water shortage.
As a result, he said doctors and nurses, who were stretched, had been complaining while the people were in distress need of medication and vaccination to reduce their exposure to the outbreak.
“Although the Minister of Health has visited the Winneba health directorate, nothing has been given to them by way of logistical support,” he said.
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Unpalatable scene
Briefing Parliament on the worsening cholera outbreak in Winneba, the Minority Leader said due to the pressure the disease had brought, the Male Ward of the Winneba Government Hospital had been converted into a cholera treatment centre.
“They have also set up a tent outside to receive new cases; children are going through trauma and the aged are the most affected and it is not a palatable scene,” he said.
Situation
The Minority Leader told the House that he visited the Winneba Government Hospital for some public education programmes and saw at first hand, the challenge confronting the facility’s management.
He said he had to buy an additional 100 mattresses and released another GH₵200,000 to ease the pressure on the hospital.
“Mr Speaker, the situation is really getting out of hand, and the PPEs are in short supply as they do not have it,” he said.
Describing Winneba as a commercial centre, Mr Afenyo-Markin said people from all over the Central Region and Ghana travelled to Winneba to trade.
“So, the outbreak should not be seen as a Winneba problem as until recently, cholera was elsewhere, and now it is in Winneba, and if it is not properly contained, it may get out of hand and may become a major challenge,” he said.
He expressed deep worry that traders were still buying fish from the Nshona (seashore), and the fishermen were still bringing in their catch at a time when the landing beach was yet to be commissioned.
“So, the fish are still being exposed, and the very people who are trading are the ones who are selling for us to eat.
“So, those in Kasoa and Mankessim, if care is not taken, Mr Speaker, we will be telling another story,” he said.
Appeal
Telling the House that the cholera outbreak was not the problem of the people in Winneba alone, Mr Afenyo-Markin appealed to his colleague MPs to also extend support to cater for the needs of those affected.
“When I hear of challenge in your backyard, you know how I come in to support you, and so do your small contribution and support Winneba since charity in times like this is very important,” he appealed.
He also appealed to agencies in the health sector, as well as those in the business of merchandising personal protection equipment, to go to the aid of the health facilities in Winneba.
