Rising cases of typhoid, cholera blamed on open defecation

The Sissala East Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Mr Edward Yandoh, has blamed increasing cases of typhoid and cholera in the Municipality on open defecation and called for a concerted action to stop the practice.

He said the practice of shitting indiscriminately in the open by local people, especially during raining seasons did not augur well, and was largely responsible for many communicable diseases.

He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency after the launch of the regional Open Defecation Free (ODF) rating in the Upper West region which saw the Municipality placing 9thout of 11 districts.

Mr Yandoh expressed unhappiness about what he called abysmal performance of the Municipality in the ODF rating and called for a collaborative effort in tackling the social problem.

Ten communities were declared open defecation free in the Sissala East Municipality and they included Wahabu, Kalaxi, Nahadankui, Kunchogu, Kupujan, Tanviali, Kwapun, Dangi, Nanchala and Katinia.

Mr Yandoh addressed field facilitators later at the municipal assembly where he charged them to come out with a roadmap this year to continue their public awareness campaign aimed at stopping open defection and improving sanitation.

The Assembly was urged to consider enforcing local bye-laws on sanitation and also double up their public education campaign targeted at achieving open defecation status.