Bongo District to solve high fluoride content in water

The problem of fluoride content in water in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region would soon be a thing of the past, says Mr Alexis Ayamdor Adugdaa, District Chief Executive.

Speaking at a media briefing at Bongo, he indicated that due to the precarious water situation in the district, the assembly appealed to the World Bank through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency for urgent intervention.

“The district will receive special assistance in the form of additional water systems for some communities under the current Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (SRWSP). I must reiterate that the World Bank is committed to solve the Bongo Water problem once and for all,” he said.

As a result of the high fluoride content in water the teeth of the people particularly pupils becomes brownish.

Mr Adugdaa added that the Consultant, TBN/Holix working on Small Town Water System was tasked to do the needed estimates and submit proposals.

He said under the system GH¢1,295,170.12 would be allocated to Soe community and GH¢1,793,634.78 to Zorko as well as the consultancy services for hygiene and sanitation promotion for 20 communities in the district.

He said 20 boreholes have also been earmarked.

“A number of sanitary facilities have also been provided to augment the Community Led Total Sanitation Programme (CLTS) aimed at ending open defecation.

“The CLTS cannot be championed without the provision of necessary sanitary facilities. The district assembly has accordingly taken a giant step to provide these facilities some of which include the construction of 10-seater pour-flush toilet at Bongo at the cost of GH¢79,497.54, construction of five KVIP latrines for boys and five KVIP latrines for girls at selected schools under SRWSP at the cost of GH? 211, 284.97.”

He said the District National Health Insurance Scheme, has increased its membership from 48,275 in 2013 to 55,651 as at November 2014 representing a rise of 15.1 per cent.

“The scheme has also done well in meeting its financial obligations as claims payment has been made to the tune of GH?c1, 610,695.70 as at November, 2014,” he said.

He said a citizen from the area; Dr Akamah, who is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Ambulance Service has linked the district with an NGO in the United States called Project Care to provide used medical equipment.

The equipment, which would be delivered over a period of five years is worth $400,000 each year.

Mr Adugdaa said the assembly has apportioned GH¢ 5,403,808.08 on physical structures of schools such as the construction of dormitory block at Gowrie Senior High School (SHS), girls’ dormitory block, dining hall and kitchen block at Soe SHS and two-storey administration with laboratory, ICT centre and two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow at Azeem-Namoo.

Other projects include construction of boys’ dormitory block at Bongo SHS , two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows at Zorkor SHS and headmaster’s bungalow and three-unit classroom blocks, office and store, staff common-room.

The rests are a library, four-seater KVIP toilet facility and two-unit urinal at Tarongo Junior High School (JHS) and T.I Ahmaddiya E/A JHS.

The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Baba Salifu Aleemyaarum, lauded the good initiative of the assembly and the government.