Health officials have warned the public about an imminent cholera outbreak as flooding increases nationwide, particularly in the nation’s capital, Accra.

It is a common practice in Ghana for residents to empty their bins and open sewage and faecal systems during heavy downpours, contaminating drinking water sources with sewage, waste, and faecal matter and creating ideal conditions for the Vibrio cholerae bacterium to spread.

Consequently, the Ministry of Health has warned of a potential cholera outbreak, cautioning that poor sanitation practices during heavy rains could significantly increase the spread of waterborne diseases across affected communities.

Speaking during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, June 29, the Spokesperson for the Health Ministry, Tony Goodman, indicated that ahead of the rains, his outfit began awareness campaigns regarding an imminent outbreak of the disease during rainy seasons like this.

“You know, even before the rain started, we had begun giving this information out, letting the people know that when we are flooded, what follows is cholera,” he said.

He warned that some residents continue to dump waste into water bodies during floods, a practice he described as dangerous and a major driver of disease outbreaks.

“We need to stop throwing garbage into our water bodies. But whenever there is a flood, that is when people think they can empty their dustbins and the rest,” he added.

GHS has already activated its monitoring systems and is preparing health facilities across the country to quickly detect and respond to any cholera cases that may arise due to the flooding.

“We prepare for it. If it’s a wet season, rainy season, we prepare for cholera. We are endemic,” he stated.

The Ministry says it continues to intensify public health messaging as flooding persists in parts of the country.