Agona Nkwanta (W/R), July 14, GNA - Mr Kow Yankson, Ahanta West District Area Development Programme Manager of the World Vision International (WVI) has said that the washing of hands with soap after visiting the toilet has been identified as one major means of promoting personal hygiene among school children.

He said if pupils become used to washing hands with water and soap regularly, they could encourage other members of the family including their siblings to emulate them.

Mr Yankson said these at the presentation of 60 dual water facilities for hand washing to six schools at Agona Nkwanta on Wednesday. He said the items were meant for six schools within the district, which had already benefited from a K-VIP toilet provided by the WVI. The beneficiary schools included Dixcove Methodist Basic, Agona D/C JSS, Funkoe Catholic Primary and the New Amanful Methodist Primary. The rest were Sese Aketekyi Nursery, Kejabil Catholic and Aboade D/C Basic schools.

Mr Yankson said the presentation formed part of the second phase of the Ahanta Health and Sanitation Project (AHSP).

Madam Fatima Abu, Coordinator of the AHSP said the main aim of the project was to improve the health status of the over 24,891 people through the provision of potable water, health education and improved household latrines.

She said the second phase of the project, which begun in October 2002 would be completed in September 2005.

Madam Abu said over 180 Community Water, Health and Sanitation Committees had been formed, while 36 pump maintenance volunteers had been recruited and trained as part of the project.

She said 36 teachers including Circuit Supervisors had also been trained on school hygiene practices, who had been encouraged to teach their pupils hand washing techniques.

Madam Rosemond Blay, Ahanta West District Director of Education, who received the items on behalf of the schools said health care had been a major problem confronting the district. She said when pupils had been educated to wash their hands with soap and water early, they could patronise health centres when they became adults. Madam Blay expressed her appreciation to the WVI for its continual support for the educational needs of the district. 14 July 04