As part of efforts to become the best Open Defecation Free Region, the Volta Regional Coordinating Council is to organize what they termed as Communities Environmental Health and Sanitation durbars to educate people on the concept of open defecation free and its benefits.
Volta Region is preparing adequately on environmental cleanliness while hoping to be declared not only as the best Open Defecation free region but the cleanest and hygienic region in the country.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu who disclosed this at Nyagbo-Agordome in the Afadzato-South District when eight (8) communities received awards for achieving Open Defecation Free status, noted that such durbars do not only aim at propelling the region enough to contest and win the ultimate prize as the best Open Defecation Free region. It is to help improve hygienic environmental health and Sanitation drive in various communities in Volta Region.
According to him, statistics have revealed that 60 percent of people in various communities are not aware of open defecation free concept and that the Coordinating Council would work hard through the Region’s Environmental Health and Sanitation Officers to whip up the enthusiasm of people to discourage themselves from indulging in open defecation.
The Regional Minister therefore charged the Office of Environmental Health and Sanitation to intensify their periodic education on environmental health issues in the communities to equip the people with the needed technical know-how on sanitation to enable the region favourably achieve its target of becoming an open defecation free region.
The Volta Regional Environmental Health Officer, Stella Kumedzro commended the eight (8) communities for their achievement and encouraged other communities to take inspiration from such success and emulate them by joining environmental health clubs towards a healthier community.
The Regional Environmental Health Officer disclosed that records revealed that only 13 percent of the population in Ghana uses safely managed system, 25 percent have access to basic sanitation education which includes the 8 communities they are celebrating, adding that 57 percent rely on shared toilet facilities that come with its associated challenges, revealing that about 28 percent of Ghanaians still practice open defecation which do not augur well for the country’s quest to progress in environmental health issues.
Sanitation coverage in the Volta Region, Madam Kumedzro noted is currently at 32 percent, meaning the region has 68
percent more to cover in order to attain the target.
In spite of these frightening figures, the Regional Environmental Health Officer said it’s still possible to achieve their target of becoming an open defecation free region, admonishing them to embark on serious household latrine construction and stop depending largely on public latrine, with this move, she assured the people that in five years the entire region can be declared open defecation free.
Mad. Stella Kumedzro therefore urged traditional and religious leaders, assembly members and other stakeholders to use their influence and leadership skills to help drive change to promote sanitation practices in their various communities to achieve the target of becoming a region of open defecation free.
The Afadzato-South District Chief Executive, Manfred Tawiah commended the right communities for their success, saying they have raised the image of the district high which really calls for celebration, but he emphasized that unless all the remaining communities attain open defecation free status, these awards would be meaningless. He therefore challenged them to prove him wrong.
The DCE said declaring communities in Afadzato-South District as open defecation free means the district has now attained the status of an Open Defecation Free oriented district which is a blessing and should jealousy be guided to enable the district achieve more laurels in the years ahead.
The Chief of Nyagbo-Agordome, Ekusi Deborah revealed that every household in his community has constructed latrines signifying the seriousness they attached to environmental hygiene practice.
In this regard Ekusi Debrah pledged the preparedness of the traditional area’s support in the fight against open defecation and a committee is in place to arrest and deal with people caught defecating openly.
The award-winning communities received certificates, shovels, pick axes, wheel s, 2 gallons of liquid soap each and rakes for achieving OPD status.
By Robert Abilba
