Wash programmes vital: Wong

Health Watch

KEY water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) programmes implemented in schools, health facilities and communities will play a vital role in encouraging people to practice proper hygiene methods, says Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Jelta Wong.
Wong, who is Gazelle MP, said this following the decision by the Gazelle development authority to purchase 50 water tanks (9,000L) which cost a total of K170,000 for 50 health facilities in the district under the Wash programme.
The Gazelle DDA approved a funding of K400,000 to purchase water tanks for the 208 schools in the district.
“We are achieving the sixth United Nation’s sustainable development goal which is to ensure everyone has access to water and sanitation,” Wong said.
“The Wash programmes are now seen as important from the national level.
“Schools, health centres and communities are the focal points, therefore, the programmes should reach these settings.
“Water, sanitation and hygiene is very important in congregated populations, especially in health facilities where the risk of getting infected with communicable diseases is very high.”
Wong said accessibility to Wash in Gazelle was below targets.
Accessibility averages in urban and peri-urban areas is at 50 per cent and in rural areas at 13 per cent which is below the national Wash target of 75 to 80 per cent.
At the national level, only 33 per cent of rural areas have access to improved safe water sources compared to urban areas with 89 per cent. Gazelle is in the 33 per cent under rural areas.
Wong said currently the roles of enforcement for compliance to minimum standards of safe drinking water, improve sanitation facilities and improve hygiene practices was left to each LLG and district with minimal capacity, lack of directives and scrutiny.
He said as a start, the health sector under the district administration would purchase tanks to assist health facilities and the primary care level in the fight against the Covid-19 under the Wash funds.
The water tanks for schools will benefit students in the 66 primary schools and 142 elementary schools in the district.
The programme would help reduce the spread of Covid-19.