Articles, Health

The “Gyata Bi” Called Cholera…..

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By Dr. Naa Dedei Chandi

The recent outbreak of cholera across Ghana is a wakeup call to each and every Ghanaian to check our attitudes. It reminds us of Adani Best’s song (Oya mo gyata bi oolé)” which literally means you have deliberately brought a lion cub (“baby lion”) home to rear it. The song goes on to say “ke eda ni obaa na ee” – to wit you will see the repercussions when it grows.

Cholera is a deadly infective disease caused by a virus known as vibrio cholera. Cholera usually occurs in places with poor sanitary conditions especially where there is poor disposal of faeces and absence of or poor hand washing facilities. Cholera is caused by eating and drinking food contaminated with the vibrio cholerae. The germ thrives in cold foods. A person can be infected with cholera within a few minutes of exposure to the  germ that causes cholera (vibrio cholerae) to about 3 -5 days. 

One is said to have cholera if there is sudden frequent vomiting and diarrhoea (loose stools) which later leads to dehydration and death due to the rapid lose of fluid from the body. The faeces of a person having cholera is watery with streaks of mucous giving it the typical “rice water” stools appearance. 

It is spread by handling food with infected hands, flies settling on foods, drinking water and other beverages infected with the virus. It can be prevented by washing hands with soap and water before and after eating, after using the toilet and before handling food. Thus foods should be protected from flies; vegetables washed thoroughly preferably in salty water or vinegar before eating. Eating hot food is important in the prevention of cholera.

One would ask, did no one see cholera (the “gyata bi”) been reared when we were busy throwing rubbish at river banks and depositing faeces at the same place? How many public health workers including Environmental Health Officers, whose core duty is to ensure sanity, have not seen the filth at Tema Station and other places though they have toilet facilities? Did we really have to wait for this “gyata bi” to grow before ensuring food vendors are certificated? We obviously do not need someone to prompt us to go for our salaries. Let us work with the same dedication. Attitudinal change is all we need.

Curbing cholera needs a change of attitude. Equating numbers with alphabets such that A is 1 and Z is 26, attitude sums up to 100. Let us change our attitude. Play your role in curbing cholera to avoid rearing “lion cubs or gyatabii” that will grow to “eat “us up. Change your attitude to change the cholera story.

Historically, many countries have battled with cholera before. John Snow’s classical work of tracing the source of cholera with water supply in the 1854 led to massive reforms to curb cholera. Ghana in the early 50’s had cholera and other communicable diseases which led to massive reforms and interventions including the institution of bye-laws to curb those diseases which proved efficacious until there was another major outbreak in the early 1970’s, 2011 and subsequent years which were again surmounted. 

Lessons definitely would have been learnt. The earlier we put the lessons learnt into action the better. Pockets of Cholera is glaring at us in a period we are focused on elections. A fine period to elude us all. Before we know, cholera has elected us from electing our party into power. We all have a stake in this. Rise up and do your work.

By Dr. Naa Dedei Chandi (margaretta.gchandi@gmail.com)

9 Comments

  1. Vida Odametey

    Great.It is everybody’s responsibility to curb cholera by maintaining good hygiene ,personally and community wise.Yes we can.

  2. aEmelia kwakye-Sakar

    Great education. If only Ghanaians would adhere to cleanliness.

  3. Bernice Mensah

    Well said my dear
    Thanks very much for a detailed description of cholera and it’s deadly effect on the lifes of humans

  4. Rashida Kpeto

    Dr. Thank you for your exposing our negligence and our I don’t care attitude would pay us back. Well said Dr and great work

  5. Thanks very much for the detailed facts on cholera. Doc, let’s look at point three (3) I think it should read cause by frequent vomiting or without vomiting but, as for the diarrhoea, it’s constant.
    Ghanaians soon forgets about outbreaks (history). During the COVID period, because of strict adherence personal hygiene and WASH principles, a lot were able to survive. There was no outbreak of cholera

  6. Abigail Seyram A. Wadza

    Thankfully we are privileged once more to be reminded by our Icon
    We are very much grateful Dr

  7. Mummy, you have said it all. This is very deep but understandable. This MUST go down to both our Cities and Villages be cholera is very dangerous.
    Mummy, you deserve more than standing ovation. Ayekoo!!!

  8. Faustina Dofui Nyidewu

    This is a wake up call for all of us as Ghanaian for the behaviour change to be effect and eradicate cholera for good .

    We are grateful our mentor ,for this piece and it will go a long way to help us.

  9. Well said