Keta Health Directorate Urges: Personal Hygiene Key to Preventing Mpox

By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu

In Keta (VR) on May 29 (GNA)–The residents of Keta Municipality within the Volta Region were advised to emphasize their well-being by maintaining appropriate personal cleanliness practices to avoid contracting Monkeypox, commonly referred to as Mpox.

This would similarly aid in warding off other infectious ailments, thereby enhancing personal health and enabling more productive lives.

Madam Dora Kugbonu, who serves as the Public Health Promotion Officer at the Keta Municipal Health Directorate, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that monkeypox is a severe illness requiring comprehensive public awareness and education efforts.

“To stop the spread of Mpox, it’s important to steer clear of bushmeat and live wild animals to maintain your well-being, and individuals showing symptoms should promptly inform the closest healthcare facility for assistance,” she stated.

She mentioned that the initial infection of Mpox typically came from animals, potentially monkeys or other wild game, through direct contact with these creatures or their products. Secondary transmission occurred when an unaffected individual encountered someone who was infected, as well as during pregnancy from an affected mother to her unborn child.

She recommended that the public steer clear of physical contact with individuals who are infected, refrain from sharing personal items with others, and also avoid eating deceased rats.

We should maintain proper personal cleanliness, ensure our food and kitchen tools are adequately covered, and take precautions when dealing with meat to avoid or stop the spread of Mpox.

Madam Kugbonu stated that the symptoms ofMpox include fever, elevated body temperature, intense headaches, muscle pain, and itching, along with rashes appearing on the skin. These manifestations can resemble those of other illnesses; however, she emphasized the importance of reporting any troubling signs or symptoms to healthcare facilities promptly for timely intervention.

She mentioned that according to recent data on Mpox from May 26, the nation reported an additional ten cases. This brought the overall count of confirmed instances to nineteen, with zero fatalities and five patients receiving treatment.

She stated that the Volta Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has recently verified two instances of Mpox in the Ketu North and Ho municipalities, affecting a 35-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman respectively.

The GNA learned that the Volta Regional Health Directorate ordered all district health centers and port health units throughout the region to increase monitoring activities and improve risk communication. They were also tasked with stepping up their educational initiatives aimed at informing the public and raising awareness to stop the further dissemination ofMpox within the districts and the entire region.

The Keta Municipal Health Directorate also disclosed that noMpoxcaseshadbeen detectedintheKetamunicipalityasofThursday,May29.

GNA

Edited by Maxwell Awumah and Lydia Kukua Asamoah

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