Harold Esseku, a water and sanitation expert at the World Bank says the failure to implement various laws and regulations on health and sanitation is to blame for the annual cholera outbreak in Ghana.
According to him even though there are sanitation laws to keep the nation clean, they are not being enforced.
It has been noted that most of the areas in Accra worst hit by the current cholera outbreak do not have proper toilets or access to pipe borne water. Teshie, Labadi and its environs have residents defecating in open drains and along the beach.
Citi News‘ Betty Kankam-Boadu visited some areas in the Teshie Maami and reported that people still openly defecate and dump refuse at the beach. She added that a few meters away from the dump and human exceata, women in the community were selling food and smoking huge quantities of fish for sale.
According to Betty, the residents do not patronize the public toilets in the area claiming it is too expensive.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Esseku said that only education and the enforcement of laws will rid the city of cholera especially in area where congestion is intense and income rate is extremely low you.
He added that in most crowded areas, people can be found “defecating by the beaches and in the drain at 12 noon.”
He added that with the lifestyle of the people enforcement alone cannot solve change the negative behaviour of the people. ‘’Enforcement is one way, but most Critically, it is the hygiene education [that is necessary],’’ he said.
He also added that until government uses education to help Ghanians understand the consequences of their actions, cholera will keep recurring.
‘’Behaviour change communication is a critical part of help us deal with the situation we have; the institutions are in place but education is key,’’ he added.
According to him the only way of getting cholera is when one eats human excreta. ‘’Whether it is food that has been contaminated by with human excreta or it is water which has been contaminated; that is what gives you cholera, he said.
Mr. Esseku also said the local assemblies should also focus on encouraging people to have toilets in their homes.
He advised Ghanaians to be conscious of their personal health. “ Wash you hands with when you visit the toilet and at all times.’’
The number of cholera cases in the Greater Accra Region has increased from 3,600 to 5,000 with 45 deaths since July this year with cases also recorded in the Central and Ashanti Regions.
By: Evans Effah/Betty Kankam Boadu/citifmonline.com/Ghana