The European Union (EU) has allocated GHC 1.6 million (€100,000) in humanitarian funding to aid communities affected by the ongoing cholera outbreak.
The outbreak, which began in October 2024, has spread to 36 districts across Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti regions.
In a statement, the EU announced that its financial assistance would enable the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) to provide chlorine for disinfection, handwashing devices, and public health education.
By the end of December 2024, the Ghana Health Service had recorded 4,850 suspected cases and 35 deaths, despite vaccination efforts.
The outbreak has been linked to poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and heavy rains exacerbating drainage issues.
The relief efforts will focus on high-risk areas, including displacement camps and informal settlements, the statement noted.
The EU expects the funding to benefit 150,000 individuals at high risk of cholera transmission due to limited access to clean water and sanitation.
The EU’s support is part of its broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Through a €14.5 million humanitarian agreement with the IFRC, the EU replenishes the DREF to address small-scale disasters that do not trigger a formal international appeal.
The EU and its members are the world’s leading humanitarian aid providers. Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, it assists millions of victims of conflict and natural disasters.
Additionally, under its Global Gateway flagship initiative, the EU is contributing €40 million to support Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing development.
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