By Daniel Agbesi Latsu
Kadjebi (O/R), Nov. 22, GNA – Mr Victus Elorm Kpotosu, the Kadjebi District Environmental Health Officer, has appealed to residents to construct household latrines to help curb open defaecation, describing the practice as a major public health and environmental concern in the district.
He made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) as part of activities marking the 2025 World Toilet Day, observed annually on November 19 to raise global awareness on sanitation challenges and the urgent need for improved toilet facilities.
Mr Kpotosu explained that World Toilet Day, coordinated by UN-Water, focuses on the global sanitation crisis, with billions still lacking access to safe and properly managed toilets.
This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Sanitation in a Changing World,” accompanied by the campaign slogan: “We’ll Always Need the Toilet.”
He said the theme highlighted the growing pressure on sanitation systems due to ageing infrastructure, rapid population growth, low investment, and the impacts of climate change.
These issues, he noted, meant communities must invest in toilets that were accessible, future-ready, and resilient to climate shocks, such as floods and droughts.
Mr Kpotosu stressed that access to safe sanitation was a fundamental human right that promoted health, dignity, and equality.
He said global statistics indicated that 3.4 billion people still lacked safely managed sanitation, while hundreds of millions continue to practice open defecation, contributing to the spread of diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.
He noted that unsafe sanitation remained a major threat to children, with nearly 1,000 under the age of five dying each day from illnesses linked to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions.
Mr Kpotosu said climate change further compounded sanitation risks, as extreme weather events damaged facilities and disrupt waste management systems, leading to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
He called for increased investment in climate-resilient sanitation infrastructure and urged government agencies, development partners, and civil society to support awareness creation on the need to prioritise safely managed sanitation as part of public health and climate adaptation strategies.
Mr Kpotosu also emphasised the importance of inclusive sanitation, urging the provision of toilets that were safe and accessible for women, girls, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
He appealed to households in the Kadjebi District to take responsibility by constructing durable household latrines, saying, that would significantly reduce open defecation and promote healthier, cleaner communities.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah