non-governmental organization, Water in Africa Through Everyday Responsiveness (WATER), has successfully trained 65 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) committee members across various schools in the Akuapem North and South municipalities. The initiative is part of a comprehensive project by WATER, generously funded by ANESVAD, aimed at addressing Skin-NTDs (Neglected Tropical Diseases) in these two municipalities.
Madam Yvette Neh, the Project Technical Officer, disclosed that the trained committee members, primarily teachers, were appointed to spearhead the establishment of WASH clubs in schools. Their responsibilities also extend to organizing activities that promote Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene practices, aligning with the project's overarching objectives.
As an integral component of the initiative, handwashing stations and boreholes have already been installed in schools and communities within the project scope. Notable beneficiaries include Abenta, Gbolo Kofi, Teiko, and Nyamebekyere basic schools in Akuapem North, as well as Anamenapa, Dago, Kwame Ntow, Nsakyi, Goten, Aburi Amanfrom, Ayim, Dumpong, and Oboadaka basic schools in Akuapem South municipality.
The training program aimed to equip committee members with essential skills to reinforce handwashing practices and hygiene both within schools and communities. Madam Neh emphasized that all Skin-NTDs and other infections are often linked to water-related and unhygienic conditions. Therefore, the project adopts a holistic approach by addressing the root causes alongside providing treatment for those already infected.
Akuapem North and South are identified among the districts in the Eastern Region grappling with communities endemic with Skin-NTDs such as Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy, and Yaws. Disturbingly, statistics reveal that between 2018 and 2022, 35 communities in Akuapem North reported several cases of Leprosy, Yaws, and Buruli Ulcers. The WATER project strives to mitigate the prevalence of these diseases through proactive measures and community engagement, thereby fostering a healthier living environment.