By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Manyoro (U/E), Oct 18, GNA – WaterAid Ghana, in collaboration with the Kassena Nankana Municipal Health Directorate, has intensified handwashing campaign at the Manyoro community in the Kassena Nankana Municipality.
At a durbar in the community, staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) led a procedural demonstration on effective handwashing techniques by showing residents critical steps that they could follow to ensure their hands are properly washed under running water.
The exercise was part of activities to mark this year’s Global Handwashing Day, which sought to remind people about the importance of hand hygiene to health while advocating for a change in behaviour towards proper handwashing with soap under running water in schools, healthcare facilities, and communities at large.
This year’s celebration was held on the theme “Why Clean Hands are Still Important”.
Madam Nancy Tangwam, a Public Health Nurse at the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Health Directorate, who led the residents through the handwashing process, indicated that to properly wash one’s hands, they must start by wetting them under clean, running water, then apply enough soap to cover all surfaces and lather by rubbing the hands together.
She added that one must then ensure to scrub the backs, between fingers, and under nails for at least 20 seconds and rinse thoroughly under running water, dry with a clean towel or air dryer, and if possible, use the towel to turn off the faucet to avoid recontamination.
Mr. Bantiu Cabral Vwawojei, the Acting Municipal Health Director, said proper handwashing was key to reducing and preventing diseases in the various communities and it was important that residents replicated the handwashing knowledge in their homes.
“Washing of hands is a behavioural activity, and we wish that what the people have learned here with the practice and simulation activities, they are going to ensure that they are practicing this in their various homes, markets, and wherever they find themselves so that we can reduce the burden of diseases with the Manyoro community”, he added.
Pe Professor Felix Achana, Sub-Chief of Manyoro Sakuniah community, commended the health directorate and WaterAid Ghana for sensitising the community members on handwashing to improve hygiene and reduce diseases in the community.
He said the community was also aware of efforts by the Municipal Health Directorate to upgrade the community’s clinic into a health centre and called on them to expedite action to provide and facilitate essential health care to the people.
Pe Clement Atudipare, representative of the Manyoro paramount chief, expressed gratitude to the donors and the health directorate for their support in organising the event.
He emphasised the importance of regular handwashing demonstrations and urged the residents to remain engaged and proactive in their hygiene practices.
Pe Atudipare, however, bemoaned that the poor state of roads in the community as a result of broken bridges, including the Manyoro-Paga Bridge, the Gumongo-Navrongo Bridge, and the Manyoro Sirigu to Bolga Bridge, was impeding health care delivery.
He therefore called on the government, non-governmental organisations, and philanthropists to come to the aid of the community.
GNA