As the world commemorates World Toilet Day, the Ho West District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO) Mr. Christopher Daniel Kumah has revealed what the district is doing to curb issues of open defecation in the local communities.
According to him, the District Assembly has put measures in place to encourage individuals in acquisition of self-household toilet facilities.
He said, this is helping the district in realizing a gradual change and understanding the concept since the general assembly of United Nations (UN) heads of state have agreed on November 19 each year to create awareness on the importance of household toilets.
He noted that, the awareness creation exercise has become very necessary since it is helping to prevent some diseases that endanger lives of citizens through open defecation.
He added that the collaboration between his office, the assembly members and Chiefs in the sixteen paramountcy in the assembly to combat the phenomenon is helping the district.
He assured that the district is hopeful of achieving its 70% target by the close of 2023 considering the economic conditions of the country.
“Ho West aimed at achieving about 70% to 80% in the household toilets facilities by close of 2023 considering the economy conditions of the country in the fiscal year. Members in some of the communities are coming up with some plans of raising funds among themselves to loan to others member to enable everyone build the facility.”
This year’s World Toilet Day in the Ho West district was held at Akome Gbogame on the theme: “Making the invisible visible the impacts of sanitation crises on underground waters.”
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Hon. Ernest Victor Apau, encouraged residents to get toilet facilities in their various houses to curb the spread of some unexpected sickness in the district.
The DCE also donated an amount of twenty thousand Ghana cedis Ghc 20, 000.00 to the Akome Gbogame community to enable them to complete their 32-seater public toilet project to tackle open defecation among residents.
Mr. Apau is hopeful the household toilet project will continue especially in Akome.
He said, some Junior High Schools (JHS) in the area have also been earmarked to be given toilet facilities next year.
He urged the youth to be dedicated and committed to combating globalization challenges and also help to achieve goals.
Togbega Deborah III, Paramount Chief of Akome traditional council who chaired the event expressed his joy over the relationship between the district assembly and the community.
He further called on residents to learn from one another and serve as a security to one another.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com