The Oti Region has recorded 10,233 confirmed cases of typhoid fever in the first and second quarters of 2025, sparking serious public health concerns.
The Regional Health Directorate says the alarming figures highlight the urgent need for improved sanitation and hygiene, as the disease is primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water.
Typhoid fever, caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, is strongly linked to poor sanitation and unsafe water sources. Regional Environmental Health Officer, Cynthia Sekyere, described the rising number of cases as worrying, noting that infections have surged compared to previous years.
Health officials attribute the increase to inadequate sanitation facilities, poor waste management, and limited access to clean drinking water—conditions that create a fertile environment for the spread of the disease.
In response, the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with environmental health officers, has inaugurated a sanitation task force to tackle the root causes of the outbreak.
Sekyere explained that the task force will implement sanitation programs such as the construction of waste disposal systems, the provision of safe water sources, and intensified public education. She added that community involvement will be central, with residents encouraged to take part in sanitation drives and educational campaigns.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Krachi West and Dean of MMDCEs in the Oti Region, Prosper Addo, also expressed concern about the impact of the outbreak on vulnerable groups.
He pledged that municipal and district assemblies will roll out initiatives to curb the spread, while stressing the need for residents’ active participation.
“We can only win this fight if communities themselves adopt good sanitation and hygiene practices,” Addo urged.
Source: Obrempongba K. Owusu
