The introduction of the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) program has brought a significant shift in sanitation behavior, leading to a remarkable decline in open defecation across communities.
According to Mr Agambire Alhassan Inusah, the Upper West Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Department, before the program's inception, 73% of people were practicing open defecation.
He, however, indicated that this figure has dropped considerably, with 79% of households now owning and using toilets leading to an improvement in public health and hygiene.
Speaking to Info Radio, Mr Agambire mentioned that a key challenge encountered during the program's rollout was the collapse of some toilets due to the lack of prescribed toilet structures.
The CLTS approach, however, was designed to encourage gradual behavior change rather than immediate perfection. The idea was for communities to start with basic toilet facilities and eventually progress to more modern systems, such as flush toilets.
Mr Agambire said the Village Savings and Loans Administration (VSLA) were introduced, allowing community members to contribute funds toward upgrading and maintaining their toilets. Through this initiative, many households have successfully rebuilt or improved their toilet facilities.
He mentioned that some communities, particularly in the Nandom Municipality, have shown remarkable independence in this effort. Monitoring visits have revealed that people are constructing new toilet facilities without external support. This, he said is a clear indication that the message of improved sanitation is resonating.
He observed that despite the success in reducing open defecation, waste disposal remains a challenge. Littering, especially with plastic waste, continues to be a problem due to the absence of proper waste collection systems. Mr Agambire urged authorities and shop owners to address this gap by providing accessible dustbins.
Comments