Koforidua, July 14, GNA - Participants at the just ended 19th MOLE Conference on sanitation in Koforidua have urged the Government to take steps at banning the use of polythene bags and encourage the use of paper bags, baskets and other degradable alternatives in the country as a matter of urgency.

In a communiqu=E9, the participants called on the government to declare sanitation a national emergency and lead the efforts at implementing the national sanitation action plan and provide funding, especially "as examples of countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh have shown that sanitation is achievable and can be achieved only when the government takes the centre stage".

"The sector ministry should set up a task force, as a matter of urgency, to thoroughly discuss and come out with conclusions on the issue of harmonizing definitions and approaches for data collection on sanitation. This is supposed to help reduce disparities in data and clarify the actual Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for sanitation". "With about 80 percent of all Out-Patient Department (OPD), cases noted to be sanitation-related; Mutual Health Insurance Schemes should be encouraged to liaise with the District Environmental Health Officers to incorporate awareness creation on sanitation in their education programmes". It also urged the government to live up to its international commitments to sanitation.

The communiqu=E9 urged Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONNIWAS) to organize sanitation debates for all presidential aspirants as part of activities marking the International Year of Sanitation. Capacity building for Environmental Health and Sanitation staff at the Schools of Hygiene and other related institutions should be strengthened to promote the behaviour change agenda. Government, development partners and other key players in the sector should facilitate and provide concessionary loans and micro credit schemes in addition to subsidies to enable more households to own toilets.

The communiqu=E9 called for increased efforts at mainstreaming equity, inclusion and gender issues in sanitation delivery services at all levels and at all times. There should also be increased collaboration and involvement of traditional authorities and religious leaders in communicating sanitation issues and enforcing regulations and bye laws. 14 July 08