By Samuel Yaokumah
Adukrom-Akuapem (E/R) Nov. 30, GNA – Water in Africa Through Everyday Responsiveness (WATER), a nongovernmental organization, has launched a gender-sensitive policy initiative in the Okere District Assembly to promote gender equity across its operational districts of Okere, Akuapem North, and South.
In an interaction with participants, Mr. Minta Aboagye, Executive Director of WATER, said the gender policy introduced was meant to complement the national gender policy.
He stated that WATER, before taking this initiative had engaged the three districts – Okere, Akuapem North and Akuapem South – in series of deliberations to ascertain the needs of communities.
“This eventually falls in line with the SDG goal six that ensures access to water and sanitation for all before 2030,” he added.
He also stated that WATER, coming onboard this programme in the three districts, was to ensure that all the programmes and future projects incorporate everything they have discovered in order to include it in their programme formulation so that no one is left out.”
He commended the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Education Service, and the three assemblies for their surveillance and the immense roles they played in providing the NGO with information to make the final decision to establish the project in the area.
Touching on the NGO’s success stories, he mentioned that with support from ANESVAD, its external donor in Spain, the group has provided several boreholes and standpipes in the three districts.
He said they have also taken the initiative to educate the people on skin Neglected Tropical diseases (sNTDs) such as yaws, Buruli Ulcer, and leprosy, emphasising that these diseases do not come about because of spiritual afflictions.
He pointed out that in the Meta community alone, they have been able to provide 15 household toilets to discourage open defecation.
Giving plaudit to the efforts of WATER, Mr. Christian Fiador, Eastern Region NTD Coordinator, said that people who suffer from these Neglected Tropical Diseases are often poor individuals who struggle to make ends meet, let alone afford treatment for their conditions.
He lauded the group for bringing relief to the people in the three districts and urged all stakeholders to contribute to helping WATER improve its efforts in these districts and any other locations where it may relocate to continue its excellent work.
He also called on other philanthropic individuals and goodwill ambassadors to join the cause to assist the community.
The Coordinating Directors from Okere and Akuapem South, in their statements, affirmed their support for WATER’s projects in their respective districts.
They also assured that they would ensure the facilities provided by the NGO would be put to effective use, monitored, and maintained.
All health directorates in the three districts received two laptops, brochures, and flyers from WATER to facilitate WASH activities in their areas.
GNA