GAPHTO warns of cholera, malaria and other disease risks after floods

The Ghana Association of Public Health Technical Officers (GAPHTO) has raised fresh concern over the public health risks posed by the ongoing rainy season, warning that recent flooding across the country could trigger outbreaks of cholera, malaria, typhoid and other communicable diseases if urgent preventive measures are not taken.

The Association specifically called on Disease Control Officers, Nutrition Officers, Health Information Officers and Health Promotion Officers to step up public education on disease prevention, direct people to available health services and ensure that vulnerable groups, especially children under five, continue to receive essential immunisation and nutrition support.

GAPHTO further urged public health workers to identify and report suspected outbreak-prone diseases early to District Disease Surveillance Officers and other relevant authorities while keeping accurate disease surveillance records to support the national response.