Reverend Richard Mawutor Buamah, an Environmental Analyst, on Tuesday emphasised that sanitation has a direct correlation and profound impact on the dignity, health and safety of Ghanaians.
“Sanitation is not just a basic right but a cornerstone for public health, economic progress and environmental sustainability,” he said.
Rev. Buamah said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, in Ho, as part of the celebration of World Toilet Day (WTD).
The WTD is celebrated on 19th November annually to raise awareness on the critical need for safe sanitation.
It also helps to tackle the global sanitation crisis which affects billions of people worldwide and to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 6.
This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Sanitation for Dignity, Health and Safety.”
Rev. Buamah noted that the day called for a shared responsibility and commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to hygienic and sustainable sanitation facilities everywhere.
He said the celebration also called for behavioral change and ensuring that every person regardless of location or status could access clean, private and accessible sanitation facilities that upheld their dignity.
“The day underscored the need for adequate sanitation facilities to help prevent life threatening diseases, particularly in vulnerable communities,” he intimated.
He alleged that about four point two (4.2) billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation facilities worldwide, adding that this staggering figure translated to lives lost and dignity compromised.
Rev. Buamah also disclosed that in Ghana 23 per cent of the population practices open defecation with only 21 per cent having access to improved sanitation facilities.
He continued that this cost the country about 290 million dollars annually and contributed to the death of about 19,000 children under five years each year.
“Despite programmes like Community-Led Total Sanitation, rural communities and schools still face significant sanitation challenges,” the Environmental Analyst said.
He noted that many schools in the country lacked gender-friendly sanitation facilities which he said was impacting negatively on the girl child’s education.
Rev. Buamah said lack of accessible toilets was also a harbinger to sexual harassment and abuse of girls and women which threatened their personal safety.
He suggested that the day should not be a mere celebration but innovative ways like decentralized wastewater treatment to mobile sanitation solutions should be employed as a game changing technology.
Rev. Buamah commended District Assemblies and Non-Governmental Organizations for interventions such as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programmes in some communities and schools in the country.
He appealed to the government to prioritise sanitation in its national developmental agenda, International Organizations and private sector to partner government to invest in sanitation innovation and infrastructure.
Also, he said civil society should amplify the voices of marginalized communities, individuals to champion sanitation as a human right, increased funding for rural sanitation projects, gender friendly toilet facilities in schools and strengthening of flood-resilient sanitation infrastructure.
Rev. Buamah lamented that in crisis situations, sanitation was often overlooked and called for an emergency response in such situations to protect the vulnerable population from disease and exploitation.
GNA
