The Integrated Community Water Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement (ICOWASH) project being implemented by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is said to be making significant gains in combating open defecation in its implementation areas.
The project, with funding support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, is being implemented in three districts of the Upper East and North East regions.
According to Joshua Abem, Project Officer with the Catholic Relief Services, the provision of boreholes and mechanised systems for communities, health care facilities, and schools across the three implementing districts has significantly improved best sanitation practices.
He indicated that open defecation, which was a major concern in most of the communities, has now been significantly reduced due to the construction of PVC latrines and the continuous sensitization and engagement with beneficiary communities on best sanitation practices and safe water storage.
He revealed that the implementation of ICOWASH 1.0 between 2017 and 2020 saw over 90 communities in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region satisfied Open Defecation-Free (ODF) communities.
The project officer made this known when he spoke to Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Daybreak Upper East show following the implementation of the second phase of the ICOWASH project.
Mr. Abem noted that inappropriate storage of water and bad sanitation practices, including open defecation, have the tendency of polluting water sources and ultimately affecting the wellbeing of children and adults, and the project goal is to ensure improved health and well-being for beneficiaries.
He indicated that community members’ understanding of safe water practices, including transportation, storage, and use, will improve sanitation and hygiene and the general well-being of the people and contribute to the achievement of the project goal.
He called on the public to construct latrines for their households to prevent hygiene-related diseases, including cholera and diarrhoea.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gilbert Azeem Tiroog|Ghana
