The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has been called to appear before Parliament within a week to update the House on the ongoing cholera and cerebrospinal meningitis outbreaks.

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This follows a request by Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, urging the Minister to brief Parliament on the government’s efforts to control the diseases.

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Afenyo-Markin highlighted that over 400 cholera cases have been reported in his constituency, while 14 deaths have occurred due to cerebrospinal meningitis in the Upper West Region.

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In response, the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, instructed the Health Minister to appear before the House within one week.

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“We need the Minister of Health to appear before the House within one week to brief the House on all the health issues raised on the floor,” he stated.

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Afenyo-Markin also appealed to the Ministry to send additional medical staff to the Winneba Health Facility to help manage the outbreak and protect lives in his constituency.

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“Mr Speaker, it has been reported that 412 cases of cholera in Effutu Municipality have claimed three lives. Currently, the affected are being treated at the Winneba Municipal Hospital, the UEW Clinic, and the Winneba Health Centre. Mr Speaker, these facilities are overwhelmed. Most of these cases are coming from the shelves. The central government must intervene immediately to save lives.

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We also need additional staff to be deployed to Winneba, and the Minister of Health should direct other health professionals to help contain the outbreak.”

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