By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Nandom (UW/R), July 30, GNA – The Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) has reiterated its commitment to enhancing access to decent Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services among rural households in the Upper West Region through its Healthy Future for All (HF4A) project.
Funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the HF4A project aimed to increase the number of children under 15 years growing up in a hygienic environment at home, in schools, and in healthcare facilities through improved WASH services, focusing on the Nandom and Lambussie Districts.
So far, seven communities in the two districts have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status through the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, complemented by a WASH revolving fund to scale up household sanitation.
The project had also constructed 21 solar-powered water systems, which currently served about 40,000 people across the beneficiary communities.
In addition, its integrated community nutrition interventions had contributed to reducing anaemia among pregnant women in those communities.
Madam Barbara White Nkoala, the Country Director of SNV Ghana and Nigeria, announced the achievements during the HF4A project’s Impact Learning Event held in Nandom.
It brought together stakeholders from the regional, district, and community levels to reflect on the project’s journey and impact so far, and renew and build stronger systems that responded to the urgent WASH needs and climate resilience of communities.
Madam Nkoala noted that access to clean WASH services remained a major challenge for rural communities in northern Ghana, exacerbated by the growing impact of climate change.
She, however, said the interventions by SNV presented hope to the thousands of people facing those challenges through the provision of toilet facilities and water systems as well as the training of community anti-climate change volunteers.
Madam Nkoala further assured stakeholders of SNV’s continued commitment, indicating that the second phase of the HF4A project would benefit an additional 4,500 children in the two districts with safe WASH services.
It would also focus on strengthening WASH governance, promoting inclusive sanitation financing, and equipping 10 health facilities with essential WASH and waste management systems.
The event also marked the introduction of the “Building Climate Adaptation Capacities (BCAC) Project”, funded by GIZ under the EUGAP-REACH project, to be implemented in Nandom, Lambussie, and Lawra Districts to build community resilience to climate change.
Under the BCAC project, SNV will construct 23 climate-resilient boreholes, train farmers in climate-smart agriculture and soil conservation, and introduce early warning systems, among others.
Mr Anthony Ziniel, the Nandom Municipal Chief Executive, commended the SNV for its intervention in the community, which had helped enhance environmental cleanliness, climate resilience and empower rural women in the beneficiary districts.
He called for effective collaboration between the district assemblies, especially the sanitation officers and SNV in the implementation of the second phase of the HF4A project to achieve maximum impact.
Madam Freda Naatu, the Upper West Regional Director of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Department, emphasised the need for measures to ensure sustainability of the project’s gains such as effective implementation of bylaws.
While appealing to the beneficiaries to ownership of the project, she urged SNV to consider reintroducing the pro-poor intervention for vulnerable communities and households to prevent relapse in the CLTS gains.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian Akorlie