Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

HEALTH

ATEBUBU: Global handwashing day marked

The Community Initiative Foundation a non-governmental organization with support from World Vision Ghana WVG has marked this year’s ‘Global Handwashing Day’ at Akokoa a community in the Atebubu-Amantin district.

Date Created : 11/7/2017 5:23:33 AM : Story Author : Cliff

The event characterized by a street procession, demonstration on handwashing, and role-play on the effects of bad sanitation practices also attracted school pupils from communities like Patuda, Jato Zongo, Dobidi Nkwanta, Abour and Famfour.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Executive Director of the Community Initiative Foundation Mr. Gibson Samoah said most diseases are acquired as a result poor sanitation and hygiene practices stressing on the relevance of the theme for the celebration ‘our hands our future’.

“Thinking of the future, we strive for continued health, well-being and productivity for ourselves, our families and our communities. Handwashing is an affordable and effective way to achieve these goals”. He said.

The manager of the Sekyere cluster of WVG comprising Atebubu, Agogo and Effiduase Area Programmes Mr. Joseph Kwogyenga said research has shown that most diseases, causative organisms and germs that transmit diseases are contracted through human contact especially handshaking adding that if people learn how to appropriately wash their hands they could curtail disease transmission by about 36%.

“The essence of WVG contribution in this activity is because of our focus on WASH, which contributes to accomplishing our broader goal of bringing about measurable improvements in the well-being of 4.5 million families spread across 29 districts in the 10 regions of Ghana by 2021.” He said.

Under the Ghana Integrated WASH project which deals with water sanitation and hygiene WVG has drilled over 250 boreholes in the past 20 years in the Atebubu Amantin district, an initiative that contributed significantly to the eradication of guinea worm from the district.

The cluster manager presented 3 eight seater KVIP toilets each costing GHC 65,000.00 to the Akokoa, Watro and Mem communities and also 45 handwashing facilities as well as 15 dustbins to 37 schools within its operational communities in the district.

While acknowledging the district assembly and other partners for their support to his outfit over the years, Mr. Kwogyenga announced that the Atebubu-Amantin district will benefit from 7 boreholes and 5 eight seater KVIP latrines under its financial year 18 projects.

The school pupils who turned out smartly had earlier gone on a procession through the main street of Akokoa with placards some of which bore the inscription ‘cover your food and save your life’ ‘keep your environment clean’ do you know that dirt kills faster than aids?’ and ‘our lifestyle today determines our future’.

An ex-Akokoahene Nana Brenya Ohene who chaired the function expressed his gratitude to WVG for its support to his community over the years and urged the pupils to serve as ambassadors spreading the message of regular and proper handwashing.