Kumbungu (N/R), Aug. 24, GNA - The French Development Agency, (AFD) is assisting the Tolon/Kumbungu District Assembly to provide borehole facilities for the provision of potable water to 39 communities in the area to help reduce guinea worm infestation and other water-borne diseases.

The District Assembly has also spent 20 million cedis to acquire sanitary equipment for distribution to community-based organizations (CBOs) to undertake sanitation management in their communities. Mr. Wahab Suhayini Wumbei, Tolon-Kumbungu District Chief Executive who announced this in a speech read for him at a public forum on sanitation awareness day celebration at Kumbungu, asked CBOs in the area to apply for the equipment to keep their environment clean. He urged the CBOs to encourage the people to use the toilet facilities that the assembly had provided and desist from indiscriminate defecation.

The Kumbungu Town Union of CBO Network in collaboration with the Tolon/Kumbungu District Assembly organised the forum with assistance from the Ghanaian Danish Communities Association (GDCA), an NGO. The CBO Network works to ensure participatory development for rural communities through enhancing capacities of beneficiaries. Mr. Wumbei called on the people to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme, saying: "Those of you who have not yet registered with the scheme should do so now before it takes off, otherwise they would have to wait until next year to register"

Mr. Issah Nasagre, Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) advised the people to take keen interest in personal, food, water and environmental hygiene to improve on their health status.

He urged them to remain united and pool their resources for the development of their communities. He also advised them to respect building regulations and keep their surroundings clean to prevent diseases, including malaria. Madam Karina Fischer, Programme Officer GDCA urged the people to always come together and discuss issues that affect welfare and find solution them rather than stand alone.

She noted that poor sanitation contributes to health hazards and all must endeavour to get their environment clean to ensure healthy lives for the people.