UNICEF official urges Ghana to give priority to environmental sanitation

A representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has underlined the need for Ghanaians to give priority attention to environmental sanitation issues.

Mr Maurice Ocquaye, who has responsibility for cholera campaign in the country, called for attitudinal change.

He was speaking at a capacity training workshop on cholera held for 30 members of the Ghana Watsan Journalists Network, at Fumesua, near Kumasi.

Available statistics show that 9,500 cases with 100 deaths were recorded in the country, last year.

Mr Ocquaye said UNICEF is supporting the government with $1.5 million to provide safe water to about 35,000 people and provide 250,000 others with access to sanitation facilities.

The fund is also helping in the area of capacity building for emergency response to an outbreak of the disease.

Mr John Yaw Donkor, Public Health Expert at Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s Waste Management Department, encouraged the people to eat their meals hot and to wash vegetables with treated water.

He said sea foods must also be thoroughly cleaned and well cooked before consumption.

Source: GNA