On Thursday, January 24, and Friday, January 25, 2025, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints made a significant donation to the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly and the Western Regional Health Directorate. These donations were in response to a formal request by the Health Directorates to assist in addressing a serious cholera outbreak in the region.
President Jacob Helland, president of the Takoradi Ghana Mission, inspects the supplies sent to the region to combat the cholera outbreak, 25 January, 2025.
President Jacob Helland, president of the Takoradi Ghana Mission, inspects the supplies sent to the region to combat the cholera outbreak, 25 January, 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The cholera outbreak began in early August of 2024 and spread across 36 districts in 5 regions of Ghana, claiming more than 35 lives with more than 4,800 suspected cases by the beginning of this year. The source of the outbreak is primarily linked to poor sanitation and disposal of human waste, creating contaminated water sources. Ghana Health Service has been working with UNICEF to control the outbreak, but resources are limited. KEEA petitioned the Church for assistance, and the Church responded immediately with medical supplies for curing the disease and to prevent the spread of the disease. Among the many medications donated were 120,000 doses of doxycycline, 80,000 doses of oral rehydration salts, 50,000 doses of ciprofloxacin, and much more. The non-medical donations included 20,000 water purification tablets, IV giving sets, disposable gloves, liquid soap, and more.
Dr. Sumanu Darko, District Director of Health for KEEA, spoke about the logistical challenges the directorate faced in managing the outbreak. "With the limited resources available to us, it would have been nearly impossible to effectively manage the outbreak. We extended a hand to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and they graciously provided everything we requested promptly. I can confidently say the KEEA municipality is now fully equipped to contain the cholera outbreak. We are immensely grateful for their timely intervention," he stated.
Dr. Joojo Cobbinah, Deputy Director of Public Health for the Central Region, emphasized the importance of personal hygiene, proper waste disposal, and environmental cleanliness in preventing cholera. "Cholera is not just a medical problem; it’s also about personal and environmental hygiene. Frequent handwashing, proper disposal of waste, and thoroughly cleaning food items are key preventive measures. During outbreaks, it’s vital for affected individuals to visit health centres where trained clinicians are available to manage cases, free of charge. On occasions like this, when a generous partner delivers essential logistics, we can only express our profound gratitude," Dr. Cobbinah remarked.
- President-Christopher-Morgan,-President-of-the-Cape-Coast-Ghana-Mission,-hands-over-supplies-to-medical-professionals-on-24-January.-2025.
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President Christopher Morgan, Mission President for Cape Coast, underscored the importance of family and community support in building strong and healthy societies. "When our families are strong and safe, our communities and nations thrive. This donation is made possible by the faithful contributions of Church members who follow the principle of tithing. Together, we can build stronger, healthier, and happier communities," he noted. Quoting the Book of Mormon, he added, "When you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God."
At the donation event in Takoradi, Dr. Gifty Amugi, Deputy Regional Director of Health for the Western Region, received the items on behalf of the Directorate. She commended the Church for its swift response and reflected on the severity of the outbreak, which began in early October, 2024.
"During epidemics, Ghanaian law prohibits charging patients for treatment, placing a significant burden on our limited resources. The government provided initial support, but there have been challenges. These items are exactly what we need to treat cases moving forward," she explained.
Dr. Amugi also shared a poignant story of a 10-year-old boy who died because his father was unaware treatment was free. "This could have been the fate of over 2,000 cases we’ve treated so far. Thanks to partners like the Church, we’ve avoided more tragic outcomes," she said.
President Jacob Helland, president of the Takoradi Ghana Mission, represented the Church at the event. Drawing inspiration from the story of the Good Samaritan, he highlighted the Church’s commitment to serving neighbours in need. "In that same spirit, we are here to support our neighbours. This donation was made possible by the selfless contributions of Church members who, out of their free will, choose to love their neighbours," President Helland remarked.
The partnership between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the KEEA Municipal Health Directorate, and the Western Regional Health Directorate demonstrates the critical role of collaboration in addressing public health challenges and saving lives. These efforts not only combat the immediate outbreak but also strengthen the health systems needed to prevent future crises.