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 15th
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.
