IMPROVING SANITARY CONDITIONS; A COLLECTIVE TASK

IMPROVING SANITARY CONDITIONS; A COLLECTIVE TASK

Sanitation refers to keeping places free from dirt, infections,  and diseases by removing waste (solid and liquid), trash and garbage by cleaning streets, homes and general surroundings. According to world health organization, ( WHO ), sanitation refers to the facilities and services put in place for the safe disposal of human urine and faeces. 

Issues of sanitation have become a burden in our country. Poor sanitary conditions play a principal role in increasing the morbidity and mortality rate in the country. Inadequate sanitation is the core cause of diseases such as malaria, cholera, typhoid, water and food borne diseases among others. These diseases are very common in our part of the world and are contributing highly to mortality rates in the country. 

According to an article published by Modern Ghana (2008), inadequate sanitation leads to eight deaths in the country every hour, topping the list of all causes of mortality. Diarrhea is reported as the most common disease which kills young children in developing countries every 15 second. 

In Ghana alone, out of one million children that are born, 82,000 die before attaining the age of five years, from diarrhea diseases. (Yankson, 2013). This however has been attributed to poor sanitation, the lifestyle and attitudes of many Ghanaians, indiscriminate littering, improper disposal of waste (solid and liquid), and lack of toilet facilities and services leading to open defecation and other forms of pollution.

Moreover, there are no strict rules helping to maintain sanitary conditions around. Uncovered gutters are constantly filled with water sachets, and papers among other things and this seems to be a part of our lives as there is no much concern about it. 

Poor sanitation costs Ghana 420 million cedis each year according to a desk study from Water and Sanitation Program, Ghana. Tourists do not patronize our tourist sites due to  increased poor sanitation. It has also led to an increase in the fecal oral infections and even an increment in the mortality rate of diseases with a direct link to poor sanitation. Dealing with poor sanitation, we must encourage education on the essence of keeping clean surroundings and this should start from the basic school through to the adults in our various communities.

Facilities for proper disposal of human waste should be put in place to reduce open defecation. Open gutters should be covered to prevent people from dumping garbage into them. Laws much be strictly enforced to ensure people are doing the right things when it comes to keeping the surroundings clean. 

Handling sanitation issues should not be centralized at the nation's capital but distributed and addressed as a national issue with dumping sites at necessary places with the help of assembly men to make it possible. Keeping the country neat and safe is a communal action in which all must be involved and not just the government or any other organization. 

We all need to contribute our quota as individuals to work this out and make things right as a nation. We are all involved in building our nation and making it great and strong.

By: Priscilla Sika Nuna Dotse