Tamale, March 3, GNA – Three Assemblies, Yendi Municipality, Kpandai and Tatale-Sangule Districts, have shown resiliency by improving basic sanitation compared to other assemblies in the Northern Region.
This is captured by the 8th Open Defaecation Free (ODF) League Table.
The 8th ODF League Table results, which were released in Tamale on Thursday, saw Yendi Municipality score 77 points to place first, followed by Tatali-Sangule with 74 points and Kpandai third with 68 points.
Gushegu, Saboba and Mion Assemblies were said to have relaxed in sanitation service delivery since 2019 as placed fourth, fifth and sixth with 65, 63, and 60 points in that order.
Zabzugu, Karaga, Nanumba North, Nanumba South and Tamale Metropolis scored 59, 58, 58, 55 and 52 points in that order, indicating that they needed to improve in sanitation service delivery.
Nanton, Sagnarigu, Tolon, Kumbungu and Savelugu scored 47, 46, 45, 44, and 37 points in that order indicating low household latrine coverage within their jurisdictions.
The ODF League Table is an initiative of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Regional Inter-agency Coordinating Committee on Sanitation, and the Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit, which is supported by a host of civil society organisations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Afram Plains Development Organisation.
It assesses access to basic sanitation practices among residents and ranks the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in that regard.
Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, in his remark after the release of the results, said the ODF League Table should be a clarion call to, especially the MMDAs, to do more to improve basic sanitation practices in their areas.
Alhaji Saibu commended MMDAs and development partners for working hard to ensure that the region recorded 60 per cent of ODF communities and urged them to continue to work to achieve the ODF goal in the region.
He also encouraged MMDAs to revive the monthly sanitation campaign to ensure a clean environment and improved sanitation coverage.
Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku, Northern Regional Coordinating Director, lauded the competition the ODF League Table had engendered among the MMDAs and expressed optimism that it would help the region to achieve holistic sanitation practices.
Mr Osman Mumuni, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist at UNICEF Field Office in Tamale, expressed the need for all partners in the WASH sector, including the MMDAs, to work together to sustain the gains made in the sector to help the region to attain free ODF status.
Ya-Na Abukari (II), Overlord of Dagbon Traditional Area, who was represented during the event, called on MMDAs to work with chiefs within their jurisdictions to help advance efforts in sanitation coverage for the benefit of all.
GNA