Fumigate Taxis After Transporting Cholera Patients - Doctor

Dr David Nortey, Administrator of Korle-Bu Polyclinic, has appealed to taxi drivers to exercise patience to allow their cars to be fumigated when they brought cholera victims to the clinic. He said the taxi drivers always complained of being delayed and expressed worry about their attitude since the cholera virus could easily be contracted by other passengers if the taxis were not fumigated. Dr Nortey made the appeal when he spoke with the Ghana News Agency after receiving relief items jointly donated to the Polyclinic by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). The items included 100 boxes of Voltic water, 40 mattresses, 40 blankets, 59 buckets, 19 cartons of soap and 10,000 Ghana cedis cheque for the completion of a toilet facility. Dr Nortey said though the clinic was facing some challenges, the management team and staff were working hard to manage the situation to save precious lives. �Most diseases are preventable if we put in place mitigating measures,� he said, adding that the clinic did not have a special place purposely for cholera victims and that had been a problem anytime there was an outbreak. He gave the assurance that the polyclinic would show commitment to ensure that cholera patients were well taken care of and that the items would be used for the intended purposes. Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the AMA would not relent in its efforts in collaborating with NADMO to provide logistics to assist in the management of all forms of disasters and other emergencies. He said the AMA would intensify the public education campaign in order to stem the outbreak of sanitation-related diseases. He appealed to the public to adhere to proper waste disposal practices such as the use of household waste bins and the avoidance of dumping of refuse into drains. Mrs Matilda Allotey-Annang, Principal Nursing Officer of the Mamprobi Polyclinic, in a separate function, received 50 boxes of Voltic water, 30 mattresses, 38 blankets, five cartons each of Omo and Key Soap on behalf of the clinic. She said regular hand washing with soap, especially after shaking hands with others could prevent one from getting the virus. She appealed to the public to observe good hygienic practices considering the toll the outbreak of the disease had had on the country. Mrs Allottey-Annang called on the media to critically intensify the education campaign to shape the attitude of the people. Dr Bernard Anim, on behalf of the management of the Polyclinic, expressed gratitude to the Accra Mayor and NADMO for their support.