EU Commissions water systems in Central Gonja at GHc 280.000

Mpaha, (NR), June 2, GNA - The European Union, (EU) with the United Nations Children Fund, (UNICEF) has provided potable water to three communities in the Central Gonja District, at GHC 280.000, towards the eradication of guinea worms.

The project would provide safe drinking water to about 176,750 people, including children. It was executed under the integrated approach to guinea worm eradication, which combines water, sanitation and hygiene, the (I-WASH) programme.

The beneficiary communities which include Buipe, Kegbribe and Mpaha were at the epicentre of guinea worm infestations in the country. Ambassador Claude Maerten, the head of the EU Delegation to Ghana and Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF Representative in Ghana, jointly commissioned the three small town water systems, on Tuesday. Mr. Gilbert Dery, Leader of the Regional Project Management Team of the I-WASH project, said last year, the country recorded 242 cases of guinea worm, with the Northern Region recording 237 of the cases. The Central Gonja District recorded 148 of the 242 cases, representing 62 percent of all the reported cases.

Mr. Dery, who is also the Regional Programme Manager of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, (GWEP) said following the provision of the Kegbripe and the Mpaha Water Systems the Central Gonja District was almost free from the guinea worm disease Mr. Salisu Be-awuribe, the Central Gonja District Chief Executive, said over 12 million dollars was needed to ensure adequate and safe drinking water supply in the district and appealed to development partners to help the Assembly to make that possible.

He said other communities in the district were still facing severe water problems and needed bore holes, dug-out and small dams to provide water for themselves and their animals. Having potable would also help prevent the re-emergence of guinea worm in the district.

He noted that for mor e than six months, there had not been any reported incidence of guinea worm in the district and said the situation could be maintained only through sustained education of the people to observe good hygienic practices.

Dr. Elias Sory, director-general of Ghana Health Service, commended the communities for their cooperation with the development partners in ensuring the successful completion of the projects. He urged the management boards of the water systems to run the systems efficiently and also render proper accounts of their proceeds so that the revenue could be invested into other projects that would benefit them. Mr. Claude Maerten commended the I-WASH Programme, the district assembly and other partners, who were involved in the project, to maintain the cooperative spirit to advance the development of the communities. He said he was glad to see that Ghana was gradually eradicating the guinea worm disease and called for effective collaboration and sustained efforts to prevent its recurrence.