Typhoid Outbreak Claims Lives of Chief and Former MCE in Dambai, Oti Regional Minister Confirms
A deadly outbreak of typhoid fever has struck the Oti Regional capital, Dambai, leading to the deaths of a traditional chief and a former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).
The Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, confirmed the deaths on Tuesday, August 26, describing the situation as alarming. “One of our chiefs, the Asafoatse of the Dambai Traditional Council, died from typhoid yesterday, and the former Chief Executive of Dambai has also passed away as a result of the same disease,” he told Joy FM’s Midday News.
Health officials have reported more than 10,000 confirmed cases of typhoid in the Oti Region since the beginning of the year. The figure represents close to 10 percent of the region’s population, raising serious public health concerns.
The Minister attributed the crisis to poor sanitation conditions in Dambai and the absence of a hospital in the regional capital, which has made it difficult for patients to access timely medical treatment. He also cited unsafe practices along the banks of the Oti River as a key driver of the outbreak.
Environmental Health Officer, Cynthia Sekyere, noted that inadequate waste management, poor hygiene, and limited access to clean drinking water have further compounded the situation.
In response, the Oti Regional Coordinating Council has set up a sanitation task force to lead cleanup exercises, enforce hygiene regulations, and expand access to safe water in affected communities. Local authorities have also appealed to residents to adopt safer sanitation practices to help contain the spread of the disease.
The outbreak has sparked renewed calls for urgent investment in healthcare infrastructure and sanitation facilities to prevent further loss of lives in the region.
