Mr. Attah Arhin a Technical Specialist on Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) with World Vision Ghana has revealed that only 8% of the population of the Upper East have access to a toilet facility.
According to Mr. Arhin, “The multiple indicator cluster survey 2018 shows that only 8% of the population of Upper East Region have access to a toilet facility. So, 92% of the population of the people of the Upper East Region don’t use toilet facilities at their homes or work side.
The WASH Technical Specialist revealed this on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, during the launch of the Upper East Regional Branch of the Media Coalition against Open Defecation (M-CODe).
He said: That is the kind of difficulty we are confronted with.
Meanwhile, expanding more on the situation, Mr. said: “If you have a region that has over 60% of its population or citizens defecating in the open, it must be a matter of great concern. And Upper East obviously is bleeding in terms of the multiple indicator cluster surveys in terms of the joint monitoring platform. But I have just checked with the population and housing census 2021, and have realized Savannah has now overtaken Upper East. Savannah Region is 68.5%, Upper East is 68.4% in terms of Population and housing census. So, that is a major issue and I think something drastic needs to happen to get the region out of this situation.
It is not fashionable in the 21st century, “It is no more fun to be defecating in the open. It is abominable, in fact, it is criminal and people must have that shame that where they are defecating is not good. So, for you to move out of your house and defecating is a serious thing and I think that not only to citizens, and also to the authorities and to the officials of MMDAs and the region will now be free from the tag”. He said
He added, “The diseases bring shame, people do not find it comfortable visiting the region for tourist activities and all that. But when we get rid of this, we save the lives of our children and they will be free from diseases and free from death, that’s what we are calling for.
Meanwhile, as part of his speech, Mr. Arhin admonished the newly launched Upper East Regional Branch of the Media Coalition against Open Defecation (M-CODe) to work so hard in making sure issues of Open Defecation (OD) is a thing of the past.
However, giving some explanations about M-CODe, he said it was first introduced in 2018 to help develop the capacity of the media as advocates for improved sanitation, especially with the agenda to eliminate Open Defecation (OD) across the country.
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/ Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/M-CODe/Upper East Region
