Seventy-eight (78) communities representing 74.3 per cent of total communities in the Daffiama -Bussie- Issa District of the Upper West Region have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).

This came to light during a Sanitation Business Marketing Expo organized by the Business Advisory Center (BAC) in partnership with UNICEF at Bussie to sensitise the people about ongoing activities targeted at ending open defecation in the District.

Mr Selle Gaanaa, a Business Development Officer at the BAC, said the Business Marketing Expo was also intended to market various toilet facilities to residents of the district by bringing business partners on board to undertake an exhibition.

He said the BAC also introduced construction of individual household latrines with the aim of getting every household in the district to own a latrine.

“Every household having toilet facilities will help end open defecation and improve sanitation conditions in the District – most people practice open defecation due to non-availability of household toilets,” he emphasized.

Mr Dominic Tugpiel, a Representative of the Upper West Regional Director of Environmental Health Unit, entreated landlords without latrines to contact Environmental Health Unit Officers and Artisans to have their own toilet.

He noted that the Environmental Health Unit was also collaborating with UNICEF and other development partners to embark on a sensitization drive that would ensure the concept of total sanitation reached the grassroot.

"We believe that when we sensitise the grassroots people on the need to have their own toilet, it will help reduce sanitation related diseases in the Region," Mr Tugpiel added.

Mr. Emmanuel Yobunt, Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Focal Person for DBI called on government and assemblies to provide technical support to Environmental Officers and individuals with interest and capacity of improving sanitation.

In the area of capacity building, UNICEF, through the Sanmark project, supported the training of 30 artisans across the District on construction of household latrines.

Amidu Issaka, one of the trained artisans reiterated their readiness to cooperate with individuals who would like to put up household latrines to improve the District ODF status.