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The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has cautioned Ghanaians about the need to be sanitation conscious in order to avoid cholera. The AMA also urged all food handlers to ensure that food is sold hot, protected from flies and sold under hygienic conditions. According to the head of Public Relations at AMA, Numo Blafo II, people should also desist from defecating indiscriminately into drains in the open spaces and water bodies, stating that individuals caught in any act which contradicts the by-laws of the Assembly would be dealt with. �The AMA wishes to remind the citizenry that the AMA bye-laws are still in force and anyone who is caught violating the law will be severely dealt with.� In a statement alerting about the cholera disease the AMA said, �The rains are here again and as a preventive measure, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) wishes to inform the general public about the need for cleanliness to avoid any cholera cases. Cholera is an infectious disease caused by cholera vibrio and is characterized by profuse watery stools, vomiting and dehydration: when left untreated can kill within hours.� The statement disclosed the following as the predisposing factors to the disease are: 1. Eating or drinking contaminated food or water. 2. Eating without washing hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet. 3. Indiscriminate defecation into open spaces drains and into water bodies. In view of the above, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has put in place the following short and long term measures. In a bid to educate Ghanaians to be health conscious, Numo Blafo said, the public should boil all drinking water and keep it in clean covered containers, eat cooked food while it is hot and also to avoid cold foods like ice kenkey and ice cream and avoid buying from hawkers since they might not be washing their hands frequently before vending the food. In addition, it recommended washing of all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating. The AMA spokesperson said, �The citizenry is advised to wash their hands thoroughly with soap under running water before eating and cooking. People are advised to avoid handshake at gatherings and if they do they are to wash their hands thoroughly with soap under running water afterwards.� He has also assured residents of the AMA�s readiness to support in terms of collecting their waste. �Residents are advised to register with the accredited contractors in their sub-metros for their solid waste to be collected,� adding that, �The health facilities in the Accra Metropolis have been placed on high alert to receive and treat all suspected cases of cholera. Any one passing watery stool and vomiting should report to the nearest health facility for treatment which is free.�