August 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
A programme dubbed, "Wash United" aimed at promoting proper hygiene and sanitation practices in schools and communities has been introduced in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.
The programme, which places emphasis on hand washing with soap before and after eating and after visiting the toilet, was organised for 14 primary and Junior high schools in the district.
The Wash United programme also advised people not to defecate indiscriminately in schools and communities.
It was organised by the Foundation for Grassroots Initiatives in Africa (GrassRootsAfrica), a non governmental organisation working in the area of poverty reduction and attracted the chief and people of Kandiga.
Madam Vida Abaseka, Kessena Nankana West District Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), commended GrassRootsAfrica for complementing GHS in promoting good sanitation and hygiene and urged it to extend the programme to other schools and communities.
She entreated the school children and community members to practice good sanitation explaining that diseases such cholera, typhoid and malaria could be prevented if people adhered to good sanitation and hygiene.
Madam Abaseka appealed to chiefs, assembly members and opinion leaders to encourage communal activities on environmental cleanliness in their various communities.
She indicated that government was spending so much on health especially in procuring medicines and said if people learnt to practice good sanitation and hygiene it would reduce the burden on government.
Mr Gilbert Atanga, Project Coordinator of Wash United, appealed to stakeholders including district assemblies and the GHS to provide toilet and urinal facilities for schools in the district.
He said the programme used outdoor games and competitions to drum home the message on the need for good sanitation practices in homes and schools.
Source: Ghana News Agency (GNA), 29 July 2010
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