Open defecation: Kadjebi residents urged to construct household latrines

Mr. Fred Ackah, a Senior Environmental Health Assistant, has called on residents of the Kadjebi District to construct household latrines as a key intervention to improve sanitation and eliminate open defaecation.

He said the construction and use of toilet facilities within homes are not only essential for promoting good hygiene and dignity, but also critical in preventing the spread of life-threatening communicable diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever and diarrhoea, which continue to pose a serious public health risk in the district.

Mr. Ackah made the call at a community sensitisation and outreach programme at Kadjebi Freetown, suburb of Kadjebi in the Oti Region, where he engaged residents on the importance of safe sanitation practices.

The programme formed part of a broader district-level initiative to reduce open defecation and improve environmental cleanliness.

“Defecating in the open invites flies and other vectors, which move from faecal matter to food and water sources, thereby transmitting harmful pathogens to humans. This significantly increases the risk of disease outbreaks, especially among children and vulnerable populations,” he said.

“The practice does not only compromise your health but puts your entire community at risk. That is why we are urging every household to take steps to construct and use a toilet facility,” he added.

The Senior Environmental Health Assistant added that promoting household latrines was also in line with Ghana’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) — ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by the year 2030.

Mr. Ackah also educated residents on basic hygiene practices such as regular handwashing with soap, proper waste disposal, clearing of overgrown weeds, and maintaining clean surroundings to prevent disease.

He urged community members to adopt positive sanitation behaviours and support ongoing efforts by the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit to promote healthier communities through education, inspections, and technical assistance.

Some residents who participated in the sensitisation programme expressed their appreciation for the initiative and signalled their readiness to begin constructing household latrines.

 However, they appealed for support in the form of construction materials, financial aid, or technical expertise to ease the burden on low-income families.

“We understand the importance of having our own toilets, but some of us need help with materials or even guidance on how to start,” one resident said.

In response, Mr. Ackah assured the residents that the Kadjebi District Directorate of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit was ready to provide technical advice, appropriate toilet designs, and monitoring support to any household committed to building a latrine.

He encouraged the community members to engage with them for assistance.

He also advised residents to ensure that their domestic animals are kept in pens to prevent them from roaming freely, defecating in the environment, and destroying property.

 Mr. Ackah cautioned that any stray animals found would be impounded, and their owners sanctioned in accordance with local by-laws.

The Environmental Health Directorate, he said, would continue to organise similar sensitisation activities in other communities across the district as part of its strategic approach to ending open defecation and promoting healthy living.

Source: GNA