The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources is urging school authorities to maintain hygienic conditions, though the government has eased COVID-19 restrictions.
The Ministry says students must adhere to handwashing and the use of sanitizers in schools.
In a Citi News interview on the sidelines of the launch of School Sanitation Solution Challenge three organized by World Vision, Deputy Director for the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate under the Sanitation Ministry, Kweku Quansah, said the country is not out of the woods yet, hence hygienic conditions must be maintained in schools.
“I am appealing to the students, the teachers and the various headmasters and school-based coordinators to be able to ensure that these facilities are maintained, water and soap and other logistics must be provided, so the students can wash their hands properly because we are not out of the woods yet. COVID is still around, so as much as they can, they should try to wash their hands at the appropriate times, those who can afford should use hand sanitizers as and when necessary.”
For his part, Integrated Programs Director for World Vision Ghana, Richard Oka, indicated that his outfit is ready to partner with major stakeholders to improve the sanitation condition in the country.
“While Ghana has made remarkable progress in respect of access to safe water, it is regrettable that the same cannot be said about environmental sanitation. Progress towards universal access to improved sanitation and ending open defecation continues to be very slow.”
Mr. Oka further lauded the Sanitation Ministry, GES, GAMA among others for supporting School Sanitation Solution Challenge 3 organized by World Vision.
“Indeed, the active involvement and support from all relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Ghana Education Service and the School Health Education Program Unit, the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, the Zoomlion Foundation, among others, have made the challenge a unique one.”
“I particularly wish to commend the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah for her personal involvement and interest in this challenge. She attended the grand finale last year, decorated Mawadatu as the 2nd Child Sanitation Diplomat and pledged the support of her Ministry for the initiative.”
“I am happy to observe that tremendous progress has been made towards the achievement of the following objectives of the Triple S challenge: Influencing children to become sanitation conscious and agents of change, challenging children to co-create sustainable solutions to sanitation challenges around them, and advocating for the removal of barriers and increased access to improved sanitation, particularly in basic schools”.
