After the floods, a new danger emerges: GHS warns of cholera and malaria

As communities across Greater Accra begin cleaning up after Monday's devastating floods, health authorities are warning that the danger is far from over.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has cautioned that the rains could trigger outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria if residents fail to take urgent precautions against contaminated water, poor sanitation and mosquito breeding.

The warning comes just a day after floods claimed lives, displaced families and left large parts of the capital submerged, with many residents now returning to homes surrounded by stagnant water and debris.

According to the GHS, the first heavy rains after prolonged dry weather significantly increase the risk of waterborne diseases because floodwaters can wash human waste into streams, wells and other water sources used by communities.

Health officials warned that food can also become contaminated during this period, particularly vegetables grown near rivers and other water bodies inundated by floodwater.

At the same time, pools of stagnant water left behind by the floods create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever.

Discarded containers, old vehicle tyres, cans and other items capable of collecting rainwater were identified as some of the most common mosquito breeding sites.

The Health Service is urging households to take immediate preventive measures by drinking only safe water, maintaining proper hygiene and eliminating stagnant water around homes before mosquitoes multiply.

Food vendors have also been advised to tighten hygiene standards by sourcing ingredients from approved suppliers, separating raw foods from cooked meals and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables with clean water and salt or vinegar before sale or consumption.

The GHS reminded food handlers to ensure their health certificates remain valid and to comply fully with food safety regulations during the rainy season.

Public health experts have long warned that the period immediately after major floods often brings a second emergency in the form of disease outbreaks, particularly in densely populated communities with poor drainage and inadequate sanitation.

The Health Service is therefore urging the public not to lower their guard as recovery efforts continue, stressing that preventing disease will depend as much on individual hygiene and environmental cleanliness as on government intervention.

With more rain forecast in parts of southern Ghana, health authorities say vigilance over the coming days will be critical to preventing the flood disaster from escalating into a public health crisis.