The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nabdam Constituency and Deputy Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Dr. Kurt Nawaane has joined the discussion surrounding the anthrax outbreak in the Binduri District. Expressing his views on the matter, the MP emphasised the importance of adopting a change in lifestyle to prevent the situation from escalating.
Acknowledging the efforts of the appropriate authorities in managing the outbreak, the MP stressed the need for individuals to take personal responsibility.
“We need to change our own lifestyle, the way we eat our animals, the way we use them for funerals. I believe that it can come under control. It is still not yet out of hand.”
Highlighting the potential consequences of maintaining current practices, the MP expressed concerns about the impact on people’s economic livelihoods.
He warned, “If we joke, it can kill so many animals that the cattle industry can be affected, and our economic livelihood can also be affected.”
The MP further called for a reevaluation of the traditional funeral rites, particularly the practice of hanging killed animals for an extended period and distributing the carcass among family members. He identified this as a potential source of anthrax transmission.
He commented, “We should take steps to discourage this particular act where the animal is killed and the meat is not shared immediately but left there for so many weeks, especially during our funerals. I am not surprised that it is coming at this particular time when we have a lot of funerals during the dry season. The other aspect is that we cook our meat very well.”
MP’s appeal for lifestyle changes in response to the anthrax outbreak underlines the significance of individual actions in preventing further spread. By modifying practices related to animal consumption, particularly during funeral rites, and ensuring thorough cooking of meat, the MP believes that the spread of anthrax can be curtailed.
The MP’s call to action serves as a reminder that preventing the outbreak from worsening requires a collective effort and an understanding of the potential consequences.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gerard Awombadek Asagi|Ghana
