Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

SOCIAL

Denugu community gets solar powered mechanised water system

A solar powered mechanized water system with capacity to supply about 25,000 litres of water daily has been commissioned for the people of Denugu, a farming community in the Garu District of the Upper East Region.

Date Created : 5/25/2022 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Ghanadistricts.com

The facility, with the capacity to supply water to over 10,000 people, has been connected to the Denugu Health Centre with hand washing machines installed in all the wards, departments, and vantage points.

Additionally, the integrated water system with distribution lines of 700 metres, reaches out to two other places, the Denugu Market and Basic School where taps are connected for members of the community and its environs, and students to easily fetch water.

It was provided by WaterAid Ghana, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) focused organization as part of its WASH for Healthcare Facilities Programme with support from Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited on its water for life agenda.

Mrs Kate Kumi, the Acting Country Director, WaterAid Ghana, said plans had been advanced to soon provide toilet facilities and incinerator to the Denugu Health Centre to ensure proper sanitation practices.

Mrs Kumi said despite the significant role clean water played in achieving quality healthcare delivery, research had shown that more than 54 per cent of healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa did not have clean and safe water on site.

She said the situation was worse in rural health facilities in Ghana and it threatened the country’s efforts to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goal three, which was about access to quality healthcare for all and goal six, putting emphasis on access to water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030.

“I will, therefore, like to urge the Assembly to prioritise the scale up of our intervention, being intentional and marketing of your WASH plans to help realise this. We expect that this will be replicated in other communities within the district to improve the lives of all especially women and children,” she added.

Madam Helene Weesie, the Managing Director, Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited, said the facility was the second her outfit had supported to install in the district and noted that it was part of Guinness Ghana project to give back to the farming community for producing sorghum to feed its industrial needs yearly.

She said sustainable water sources were key to developing communities and building their resilience and there was the need to intervene in addressing the water crisis in the community.

Mr Osman Musah, the District Chief Executive of Garu, lauded WaterAid Ghana and its partners for supporting the district over years to improve upon access to WASH services and noted that the Assembly would build on their interventions to benefit many communities.