Health authorities in the Oti Region are raising the alarm over a worsening typhoid outbreak, with local officials calling for an urgent response from the Ministry of Health.
The Dean of the Regional Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Prosper Addo, who also serves as the MCE for Krachi West, is urging the government to immediately supply typhoid vaccines and deploy additional health workers to stem the crisis.
The region has recorded a sharp rise in typhoid infections — from 10,233 confirmed cases in the first quarter of 2025 to over 22,261 currently. This figure now represents more than 10% of the region’s population.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Wednesday, Mr Addo blamed the outbreak on unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation, warning that local health facilities are under severe strain.
“We are calling on the Ministry of Health to urgently supply typhoid vaccines to CHPS compounds, clinics, and hospitals across the region so that people can be vaccinated,” he said. “If nothing is done, the numbers could be even more alarming next year.”
Mr Addo also raised concerns about the spillage of the Bagre Dam, which he says is contaminating already scarce water sources used by local communities.
“It’s the same water people are drinking, bathing in, and living with. Some already have the infection, and others will soon be exposed,” he said.
He appealed for the deployment of public health experts and medical staff to manage the growing caseload, warning that without swift intervention, the region could face a major public health disaster.
