The Member of Parliament for the Nabdam Constituency in the Upper East Region, Mark Kurt Nawaane, has called for the reintroduction of sanitary inspectors as part of measures to combat the persistent outbreaks of cholera in Ghana.
Speaking in Parliament on the recent outbreaks of cholera and meningitis in some parts of the country, Mr. Nawaane commended the Minister of Health for the detailed steps taken to address the situation. However, he observed that cholera continues to be a recurring public health challenge in Ghana.
“Practically every year, we have an outbreak of cholera. The only time I still remember we did not get cholera was when we had Covid-19. That year, we started strict handwashing, and our environment was very clean. And so, we did not get this outbreak of cholera during that period,” he stated.
Based on this observation, the MP suggested that the Minister of Health collaborate with other ministries such as the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to revive the sanitary inspector system. He recalled how sanitary inspectors, popularly known as Tangas, played a crucial role in ensuring cleanliness in households in the past.
“These sanitary inspectors, who are products of the School of Hygiene, used to visit homes and ensure cleanliness. When your house was not clean, they could take you to court or even arrest you. We should bring them back. This will not only keep our environment clean but also create employment opportunities for the youth,” Mr. Nawaane proposed.
On the issue of meningitis, he cautioned health authorities to pay close attention to hospital-acquired infections, also known as nosocomial infections, which could put healthcare workers at risk.
“With meningitis, we should be very careful because it can be a nosocomial infection, meaning the staff working in hospitals—nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals—are also at risk. They need a lot of protection and must take very good care of themselves to ensure they do not fall sick, which could reduce the healthcare workforce,” he advised.
Mr. Nawaane’s remarks highlight the need for a multi-sectoral approach to tackling public health crises and ensuring that preventive measures such as sanitation enforcement and hospital safety protocols are strengthened.
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