There’s been a dramatic decline in diarrhoea and cholera cases in the past three years, says Akufo-Addo
The president has urged all Ghanaians to continue to observe the regular handwashing and other personal hygiene measures instituted during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic
President Akufo-Addo has said there has been a dramatic decline in diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks in Ghana in the past three years.
The president said this can be attributed to the handwashing and personal hygiene measures put in place during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to continue to observe regular handwashing and other personal hygiene measures.
Addressing the nation on Sunday (28 May), President Akufo-Addo said: “…But it is strongly recommended that we keep some of the measures imposed during the crisis and integrate them into our everyday lives because they have served us well and will continue to serve us well. I urge you all to continue the regular handwashing and other personal hygiene measures so they become entrenched national habits.
“There has been a dramatic decrease in diarrhoea diseases and we have not had any cholera outbreaks these pasts three years. These developments were attributable mostly to the handwashing and improved hygiene regime in our communities.”
He said: “It does not hurt to wear a mask if you have a cold for example… I hope that there will be no argument that we should be institutionalising the periodic disinfection and fumigation of markets. Never again should our markets be breeding grounds for rodents
“Good dividends from COVID”
The president also acknowledged that even though COVID-19 brought immeasurable hardships to Ghanaians, the pandemic also brought some good dividends.
“It has led to the strengthening of our disease surveillance system and this has been manifested in recent months by our ability to deal in a rapid and aggressive way with outbreaks of frightening diseases like Marburg, Lassa fever, and monkeypox before they could turn into serious public health catastrophe.”
“The pandemic also exposed some of the painful deficiencies that we have and forced us to take some brave and necessary decisions like the expansions of our network of health facilities under Agenda 111,” he said.
The president added, “I doubt very much but for the pandemic the network of health laboratories to capacity to do PCR testing in our country would have expanded exponentially from the initial two to 67 laboratories nationwide.”
COVID is over
President Akufo-Addo declared the COVID-19 pandemic over in Ghana.
He said all the outstanding COVID-induced restrictions at the country’s airports and all entry points have been lifted.
President Akufo-Addo said: “We are back to the pre-COVID situation as far as health entry requirements are concerned.”
End of an era
The president also declared an end to the mandate of the COVID-19 Trust Fund and urged Ghanaians to support the government by continually paying the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy.
He said: “The COVID Health Recovery Levy that was introduced to help fill some of the expenditure holes might not be the most popular tax but I entreat all of you to bear with us.”
“The COVID Trust Fund has performed an invaluable service and with these developments has reached the end of its mandate,” the president added.
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