15/10/13 GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY
ANN:
The Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, has called on
Ghanaians to champion the hand washing with soap campaign in their various
communities. This awareness creation according to him, will help reduce
cholera, diarrhea and respiratory infections in the Country, as well as sustain
the momentum gathered in the advocacy for hand washing with soap under running
water. Mr. Vanderpuije said this at the national celebration of the Global Hand
Washing Day in Accra. It was on the theme, Choose Hand Washing, Choose Health.
Hagar Sey reports.
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HS’S REPORT
The
Global Hand Washing Day is celebrated annually to create awareness on hand
washing with soap under running water, as a safe way for preventing
communicable diseases. The national celebration in the Odododiodioo
constituency, attracted chiefs and other stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation
and Hygiene, WASH, sector. Mr. Vanderpuye said this year’s theme is
appropriate; saying it gives the individual the power to reduce preventable
diseases like cholera and other disease. He said available statistics show that
from first January to October 6, this year, the Country recorded 20 thousand
279 cases of cholera with 164 deaths in nine out of the 10 regions. He said
Greater Accra had the highest cases recording 16 thousand 550 with 111 deaths.
He said areas like La Dadekotopon, Ga South and the Accra Metropolis were the
worst hit areas. Mr Vanderpuije said the Day is expected to reveal the
practical issues of unhygienic practices that underpin the importance of hand
washing with soap, encourage people to practice hand washing with soap. He
appealed to Ghanaians especially residents of Odododiodio, to make hand washing
with soap their top priority in their daily activities. The Chief Executive of
the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Clement Bugase, said the main aim of
this year’s celebration is to shift the awareness towards sustainable
behavioural change with focus on practice and not only he awareness. He urged
all stakeholders in the WASH sector to continue to support this course to
achieve the objectives of the Day.