The European Union (EU) has allocated GHC 1.6 million (about €100,000) in humanitarian funding to assist communities affected by the ongoing cholera outbreak in Ghana.
The outbreak, which began in October 2024, has spread to 36 districts across five regions: Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti.
The EU announced in a statement that its financial support would aid the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) in implementing essential relief measures, including the provision of chlorine for disinfection, handwashing devices, and public health education.
By the end of December, the Ghana Health Service reported 4,850 suspected cases and 35 deaths, despite ongoing vaccination efforts to control the disease.
The outbreak has been linked to poor hygiene practices, inadequate sanitation, and heavy rains that have worsened drainage issues.
The relief efforts would, therefore, prioritise high-risk areas such as displacement camps and informal settlements on the urban periphery, the statement said.
According to the EU, the funding is expected to benefit 150,000 individuals who are at high risk of cholera transmission due to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
The Ghana Red Cross has been at the forefront of the response, providing sanitation resources and engaging communities to curb the outbreak’s spread.
GIK/APA