La Polyclinic Can Contain Only 13 Cholera Patients

HEALTH AUTHORITIES at the La Polyclinic in Accra, overwhelmed by the increasing number of cholera cases recorded on daily basis at the facility, are resorting to using spaces designated for refuse containers at the Outpatient Department as centres for treating the patients suffering from the outbreak. Disturbingly, the dying patients are an arm�s length from the lavatories where visitors attend to nature�s call when they report at the hospital. This is because the room designated for treating cholera can only cater for 13 people as against 604 cases reported at the La Polyclinic. The rest of the patients receive treatment on benches which is meant for individuals who visit the health post for medical care. Speaking to the DAILY HERITAGE in an interview, the administrator at the La Polyclinic said the facility has so far attended to 604 cholera cases. He observed, however, that �the unfortunate thing is that the cases keep increasing. �From Saturday to Monday of this week, we saw 74 new cases and 23 new cases yesterday,� he added. He opined that the clinic has discharged 563 of the patients, adding that they have so far lost eight lives. He explained that four were brought to the hospital dead on arrival, but the rest died at the facility. He said as much as public education is ongoing, people have to take personal responsibility for keeping their environment clean. He said it is unfortunate that cholera is killing people. He asserted that the cholera room at the hospital can take only 13 patients and because of that, they have been compelled to treat cholera patients on benches at the OPD. He appealed to the general public to come to the aid of the La Polyclinic, but, they are particularly in need of beds, liquid soap and disinfectants among others.