Wa, March 15, GNA - The people of Ducie, a guinea worm endemic community in the Wa East District, have started benefiting from a mechanized water system provided by DFID at a total cost of 2.8 billion cedis.

The system is temporarily ran on a generator but the major system, which would be powered by solar energy, would be completed next month, Mrs Blandina Batiir, the Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, said on Wednesday.

She was speaking at a one-day meeting to review water and sanitation activities for last year.

The meeting brought together all stakeholders in the water sector in the region and they evaluated reports from all the eight districts and relevant non-governmental organizations. In addition to stakeholders' contribution to the provision of water, Mrs Batiir said, the CWSA had a budget of 35 billion cedis last year for the implementation of the Small Town Water and Sanitation Project in eight towns in the region.

The towns are Nadowli, Daffiama, Jirapa, Lawra, Nandom, Tumu, Gwollu and Sakai.

Civil contract works on the projects, which were awarded in February and March last year, have almost been completed and the systems would be handed over to the communities by the end of March. Mr David Yakubu, the Regional Coordinating Director, appealed to the CWSA to strengthen its monitoring mechanisms, especially of the water boards of the various communities, and be prepared to apply sanctions where necessary to enable it to achieve its targets.