Access to water and sanitation are foundational for quality health care- World Vision Ghana
Sunyani, July 13, 2023
The World Vision Ghana believe that nothing can be more important to child wellbeing than access to sustainable water and sanitation services.
Mr. Yaw Atta Arhin, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Technical Coordinator, World Vision Ghana stated and explained that every child has the right to safe water and live in a clean environment.
Because, access to safe water and sanitation are foundational for quality health care services and improvement of education.
In that regard, the World Vision Ghana has introduce a move to improve Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene situations in both the school environment and communities in Ghana.
It is supporting basic school children to learn and deeply understand issues of sanitation from their younger age.
The organization’s initiative would help achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) goal six (6).
At the ‘Master Encounter – Northern Sector School Sanitation Solutions Challenge (Triple S)’ in Sunyani, the pupils presented how sanitation issues were affecting teaching and learning in their schools.
They therefore suggested proper management and maintenance ideas to improve particularly toilet facilities in their schools.
The contestants between the ages of 12 and 14 were selected nationwide from schools in selected Districts to present sanitation and hygiene solution proposals, based on how the situations is affecting academic performances.
Mr. Arhin said the Challenge was organized in partnership with Kings Hall Media, Zoomlion Foundation, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and the Ghana Education Service to advocate for open defecation free as part of the project.
The objectives of the Challenge according to Mr. Arhin was to empower the children to become advocates in the delivery of safe drinking water through sanitation and hygiene.
It would also build capacities of Ghanaian children to co-create sustainable sanitation solutions among themselves.
Further, the contest would help encourage the children to cultivate an interest in water and sanitation issues and positively influence their peers in addressing situations such as poor maintenance of toilet facilities in schools.
This would inculcate into the children the need to cultivate the habits of identifying and solving sanitation problems from their basic schools and be the change makers in sanitation management.
They would be equiped to become conscious agents of change to enhance access to improved sanitation in schools and communities for a sustainable sanitation solutions in the country.
After the national context, the ultimate winner would be supported by World Vision to undertake sanitation project and become the child sanitation Diplomat, Mr. Arhin stated.
Vanessa Wenaba Adune, a class six pupil from Great Victory Academy, Bolgatanga, andHannah Fokuo, 13 years, from Biadan Methodist J.H.S in Berekum, Bono region were the winners to represent the Northern Sector in the grand finale in August this year at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Writer’s email: ttchrietoph1@gmail.com