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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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.