NHEL 005

Health Review Project HFFG praised for successful WASH-UP project in Accra

Accra, Sept. 8, GNA - Beneficiary communities of USAID-sponsored Wat= er Access Sanitation and Hygiene Urban Poor (WASH-UP) Project in Accra, have commended the implementing agency, Hope For Future Generation (HFFG), sayin= g peoples' lives and behaviours have been transformed. The communities, which are Nima, Ayidiki and Avenor, all in Accra, sai= d the HFFG, a community development NGO with special attention on women and children, had not only built their capacities to own the projects, but more so helped them to change their behaviours and empowered them economically. HFFG is implementing a three year behavioural change communication intervention for the WASH-UP in Accra and Takoradi in partnership with Cooperate Housing Foundation (CHF) International to establish and strengthe= n sustainable community structures to promote good hygiene and sanitation. Reviewing the second phase of the project in Accra on Thursday, a representative from Nima community, Hajia Mariama said: 93HFFG have done a lot for Nima," and noted that others paved the way, but the arrival of HF= FG breathed a new life and understanding in them. "You have actually transformed Ayidiki. We and I in particular have learnt a lot from the various projects and today I can say that now I wash my hands whenever I get home," a mother representing Ayidiki community sa= id. The WASH-UP project has five components: water 96 installation of wat= er points for public and individual extension of piped water to households; sanitation 96 construction of household and public latrines; Behaviour Cha= nge Communication 96 Hygiene promotion in households, schools and within group= s. The other two are Business Development 96 promotion of water and sanitation related businesses; and Capacity Building 96 enhancing the capacity of partners, including service providers to deliver. Mr Fedelis Edem Anumu, Project Manager of HFFG, giving an overview of the project in Accra, said almost all the targets set for improvement in water, sanitation, hygiene, capacity building, and business development wer= e exceeded. For instance, the target for improving the washing of hands with soap in schools of the various communities improved by 48 per cent whilst, general school hygiene practice saw an improvement of 26 per cent. Mr Anumu said the next step for the project would be to establish ownership and sustainability arrangements for the communities as well as address challenges for improved performance. Mrs Cecelia Lodonu, Chief Executive Officer of HFFG, said the second phase of the project ended in August this year successfully because of the cooperation enjoyed from the communities. Ms Margaret Owusu Amoako, Behavioural Change Communication Specialist for CHF explained that the WASH-UP project was an integrated approach implemented in partnership with the public sector especially local authorities. Photo exhibition on the various projects and activities during the phase two implementation, were displayed for the participants at the review meeting. 8 Sept. 11

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