Paramount Chief of New Juaben Traditional Area and former Government Statistician Daasebre Prof. Emeritus Oti Boateng has launched a healthcare and sanitation project to mark his 83rd birthday.
Known as “Operation Clean Communities”, the hygienic intervention is expected to prevent spread of not only COVID-19 but also four major diseases such as malaria, cholera, typhoid and measles revealed as afflicting the communities in the Root-based survey conducted in 2020.
Speaking at the launch of “Operation Clean Communities” at New Juaben Omanhene’s Palace in Koforidua powered by Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, IRC International Water and Sanitation Center in Ghana, Daasebre Prof. Emeritus Oti Boateng said “I am extremely elated for the rare opportunity to host such a momentous event on such historic occasion with a dual significance.”
“Today coincides with the first anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by World Health Organization. It also coincides with my 83rd birthday. The launch of “Operation Clean Communities” today may, therefore, be considered as my humble birthday present to the Chiefs and people of New Juaben in particular and Ghanaians in general”.
Operation Clean Communities is derived from health, which is one of the six thematic development concerns of the Root-based model.
Through the built-in communication and information flow mechanism, the communities are connected together with shared ideas and expertise for rapid development.
As a Root-based development initiative, Operation Clean Communities is expected to help community members maintain and improve sanitation and wellbeing, prevent the spread of infectious diseases and upgrade their preparedness for natural disasters. The community we live in is part of who we are. The decisions you and your neighbours make impact those around you since the community embraces all its residents who wouldn’t have it any other way!
Operation Clean Communities requires residents to look beyond themselves and take “collective responsibility”. It focuses on sanitation and the importance of leading a generally healthy lifestyle in order to protect the community as a whole.
The collective responsibilities that individuals have for their communal health can lead to positive interactions within the community as a whole.
The operation focuses on preventive rather than the curative aspect of healthcare.
It is inspired by the universal dictum that prevention is better than cure. It will thus involve the use of trained personnel in comprehensive health education of households within the two Municipalities constituting the New Juaben Traditional Area.
This critical phase will be preceded and followed by pre-intervention and post-intervention surveys to establish the level of community knowledge on sanitation and disease transmission mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Jospon Group of Companies has presented some items to New Juaben Traditional Council to enhance implementation of “Operation Clean Communities”.
