ENVIRONMENT

KADJEBI: DCE rallies citizen to end open defecation
Citizens of the Kadjebi District in the Volta region have been admonished to support the assembly to eradicate open defecation to improve environmental cleanliness.

Date Created : 11/27/2017 4:33:14 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

According to the District Chief Executive, Maxwel Kofi Asiedu, supports from UNICEF, and World Vision Ghana must be properly utilized to achieve this laudable idea of ensuring open-defecation free society in the interest of ensuring healthy environment for healthy living.

“It is very unfortunate that the District is struggling to achieve the target of District-wide Open Defecation Free (ODF). This is because the most recent statistics indicate that we have achieved only 43% of our target. But much as we feel sad about our poor performance, fortunately, we are charting a new path under the Sanitation Market programme with funding from UNICEF. We also have World Vision Ghana supporting us in various ways under its WASH Programme. All these present opportunities for us to renew our commitment to ensuring that we achieve this target, this time around”.

The DCE who was addressing the gathering at the commemoration of the 2017 World Toilet Day noted that, there is a need for collective efforts to deal with the situation and urged all sanitation stakeholders and institutions in the District, to bring on board innovative technology and services to support the collective efforts of ensuring clean and safe Kadjebi District. “Let us work together with a fresh resolve to improve the situation by working hard to achieve our commitments, namely - our pledge to make the District open defecation-free by 2018 and the global commitment to ensure sanitation for all by 2030”.

With the theme “Achieving District-Wide Open Defecation Free – All Hands on Deck’’, the DCE reminded the people that without their commitment and support, institutions mandated to ensure improved environmental sanitation services in Ghana, can achieve very little

Mr. Asiedu revealed that so far 1,141 improved household latrines, using locally available materials have been constructed with hand washing facilities within the Kadjebi District. Also seventy-six (76) communities have attained various states of open defecation free with 56 certified ODF including Yadzo, Kpalime and Anani, whilst 54 more, are still practicing open defecation.

“I pray that since the World Toilet Day celebration in the District is taking place here, Yadzo, Kpalime and Anani are challenged to share their experience with other communities (especially those close to them) to stop open defecation by constructing improved household latrines with hand washing facilities in their homes”.