Government applauded for tackling poor sanitation

By Sambiru Duut Elijah, GNA

Nandom (UW), June 9, GNA – Naa Dr Ernest Sangsor-Tulong I, the acting President of Nandom Traditional Council, has commended government for establishing the Sanitation Ministry to deal with poor sanitation and provide adequate water nationwide.

Over the years, sanitation, which was an essential aspect of human life, was buried under the Ministry of Water, Works and Housing and appeared to have been refused the required attention for improvement.

“But it took the visionary leadership of the current administration to detach it from the Water, Works and Housing Ministry and made it stand alone as a Ministry, the Chief said.

He was addressing the chiefs and people of Nandom district during the climax of district-wide Open Defecation Free (ODF) status on the theme: “Push to action towards a sustainable sanitation and hygiene for all”.

The World Health Organization (WHO) between 1971 and 1981 declared water decade for the absolute provision of pure water in the entire world which, Naa Sangsor-Tuleng said, previous governments had not achieved.

“But the move by the current government was a step in the right direction”.

 He quoted WHO reports, which indicated that about 80% of diseases in the developing countries were water and sanitation related.

However, he noted that there was no importance attached to Water and sanitation and that the government deserved applauds and hand shake.

Ms Theresa Swanzy-Bafoe, SNV Wash Advisor, said based on research conducted last year, one out of five persons in Ghana practiced open defecation but Nandom has a different story to tell as they were adjudged Ghana’s first district to attain ODF status.

She said the journey of SNV to Nandom started in 2014 under the district funded programme called Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for all, which sought to strengthen the capacity of local authorities in developing and enforcing area wide sanitation service delivery modules.

She named some activities adopted to fight open defecation to include community pledges, government pro-poor policies, advocacy for behavioral changes, Enacting and enforcement of community by-laws and motivations.

Others included community sensitization projects, strengthening collaboration and sharing of ideas among communities, awards and celebration of selected communities and individuals.

She said several mechanisms were rolled out to ensure increased access to sustained use of sanitation by vulnerable groups including mobilization of stakeholders and community groups to encourage appropriate hygiene and sanitation interventions.

These ensured that the gains were maintained and people were motivated.

Ms Swanzy-Bafoe appealed for adequate funding of sanitation programmes, sharing of ideas between OD and ODF communities, sensitization engagements, enforcement of community bylaws and other measures to enable the entire region and Ghana achieve it target of ODF by 2020.

The District Chief Executive for Nandom, Mr Aasouglenang Thaddeus Arkum cautioned the 88 communities in Nandom district not to relapse into the old ways but rather ensure that they continuously have improved latrines, waste management practices, water storage and treatment as well as water washing systems.

GNA

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