CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN GHANA…

The Korle-bu Polyclinic started recording cases of cholera as early as April this year; however, the epidemic has seen a significant increase especially after the celebration of the Sallah.

Patients received treatment at the Polyclinic’s O.P.D due to inadequate facilities. The only structure available for these patients was a wooden “one”. 

According to the head of the polyclinic, DR. DAVID NII NARH NOPRTEY, that structure was built some years back when the country had a similar case. He further stated that, it took the intervention of some people to still keep that structure; otherwise, there would have been no where to keep the patients.

The structure was used to accommodate patients with severe cases only. Other patients were kept and treated either at the O.P.D or a part of the clinic (on the corridor) designated to cholera patients.

In an interview, with the Public Nurse in-charge, ADELAIDE YEBOAH, more patients were being transferred from the community hospitals to the polyclinic each day. There was also the problem of inadequate nurses to tackle the issue at hand.  She added that most of the patients lived or came from areas like Chorkor, Agbogbloshie, Agege and Jamestown.

 According to her, close to 20 cases of cholera had been recorded just that morning and was sure more patients were going to be brought in.

In an interview with two patients, they had told us that they did not know exactly what was wrong with them until they came to the clinic, where they were told they had cholera. They added that they do not know exactly what caused it. Also, they said that their first point of contact was the pharmacy shop because they didn’t suspect it was cholera. They only considered going to the hospital some time later when the situation was not getting any better.  These patients have been admitted at the facility since Saturday and have taken series of drips.

Speaking to the sister of an 18 year old patient, she told us that her sister had returned from school ill, she took her to a hospital in the vicinity (Dansoman), only to be told she was ill of cholera. According to her, her sister was admitted for some days but was later transferred to the Korle-bu polyclinic when they could no longer handle it. At the Dansoman hospital, she was given 16 drips and was already taking her 15^th at the polyclinic. She has also been at the clinic since Saturday.

In her final words, the public nurse in charge, ADELAIDE YEBOAH, advised that THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR EVERYONE WHEN THEY FEEL THEY ARE SICK SHOULD BE THE HOSPITAL OR CLINIC AND NOT THE PHARMACEUTICAL SHOPS. SHE ALSO ADDED THAT EVERYONE IN THESE TIMES SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE O.R.S WITH THEM JUST IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. FINALLY, SHE SAID THAT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN PROPER HYGIENE AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TRY COOKING FOR THEMSELVES.

THE HEALTH CONDITIONS OF THE SCRAP DEALERS...

Old fadama

The town seems to shelter people of all countries and ages. It is a town where we can find one of the biggest scrap sites in Ghana and scrap business seems to be the most lucrative, easiest, common and most open to all as children are seen there too.  Scraps are waste products usually metals that are recyclable. One who deals in scraps either gathers them or buys them. More often, those who gather them are more at risk as some of these wastes will have to go through burning processes to obtain the actual material or scrap. The environmental condition under which this is done makes us ask the question: ARE THEY HEALTHY?

The sites of two young brothers reveal the danger and health problems associated with this kind of job. With emotions and tears running down his face, the younger who is eight years old, discloses that for a day, he earns ghc2.oo, which he gives to his mother when he gets back home. Although it has only been a short while since he started this job, his eye colour has changed from its original state to reddish brown. He explains this is not the only problem with the eye; there are times   it itched. According to him, he has told his mother time without number but with no remedy as a result of the same problem which has driven him to such a job or place;money.

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Ramdan is an 18 years old immigrant from Togo. ‘This is where I work’ he said. During the day, Ramdan gathers some scraps and sells it out to buyers before the day gets older. ‘At most i earn ghc 15.00’ he added. According to Ramdan, he is into this business so he can save enough money to buy some items he needs as a mechanic in Togo, a job he has been into since he was six years. He lives in Ghana with an auntie. Concerning his health, Ramdan explains he has no health issues now although from the he used to have some headaches when he began the job. To him, those headaches were normal and have nothing to do with his job.

Earnings from the site seems to be based on age, hard work and how much /many scraps an individual gathers in a day. Joshua is a 15years old boy from Nigeria. As compared to Ramdan, he earns ghc 3.00, spends ghc1.00 a day and saves ghc 2.00 with a microfinance collector (Susu collector). Joshua lives with eleven (11) other boys in a room. According to him, he needs money so he could go to Nigeria and see his mother all by himself since his father for long has refused him the opportunity. Joshua is at this site without any family member’s knowledge. At the genesis of the job, he explains he had some headaches which he experiences no more. Just like Ramdan, he thinks this has nothing to do with the job. To cure the headache, he will also simply go to the pharmaceutical shop and get a pain reliever. He is okay after taking the drug given him.

Apart from these two brothers whose presence and story have revealed the dangers associated with the scrap job, all others who have been interviewed have only complained of headaches. They seem not to realize the dangers associated with this business. This seems to be as a result of the fact that they are used to the environmental conditions. With smoke all over the place one cannot help but to conclude that these headaches are as a result of the surroundings and the conditions under which they work.