Krachi West Municipality in the Oti Region is facing a mounting public health challenge, with typhoid fever cases rising sharply in the first half of 2025. Recent reports indicate that the region has recorded some of the highest typhoid incidences nationally, putting immense pressure on local health facilities.
Residents have voiced growing concern over the outbreak, which has affected approximately 20,000 people in the first six months of the year. Community members are calling on government agencies, health authorities, and development partners to act swiftly to prevent further spread of the disease.
In response, the Oti Regional Coordinating Council has inaugurated a 21-member task force to enforce sanitation by-laws and promote hygienic practices across the region. Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Krachi West, Mr. Prosper Addo, stressed that sanitation enforcement is critical to curbing typhoid, which often spreads through contaminated water and poor hygiene.
“Sanitation and public health go hand in hand,” Mr. Addo said. “By ensuring our communities adhere to basic hygiene standards and safe water practices, we can significantly reduce typhoid transmission.”
He further called on the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to roll out mass typhoid vaccinations for vulnerable populations, highlighting that preventive measures would be more effective and cost-efficient than treating full-blown outbreaks.
The MCE also urged civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and local partners to support community sensitization efforts, emphasizing the importance of clean water, proper waste disposal, and personal hygiene in stopping the spread of the disease.
With typhoid posing a serious threat to public health in Oti, local authorities and residents alike are under pressure to take swift, coordinated action to protect the population and prevent further strain on healthcare facilities.
