Obo Yambo (C/R), Oct. 29, GNA - Plan Ghana, a non governmental organisation operating in Bawjiase in the Central Region, is assisting five communities to construct improved household pit latrines to ensure good environmental hygiene and sanitation. A total of twenty-seven toilets that had so far been completed were inaugurated on Tuesday at Obo Yambo and Aboano, two of the beneficiary communities.

The facilities were built with local materials under the supervision of the Professional Network (PRONET), also an NGO based in Accra. Labour services were provided by the community. Other beneficiary communities where work is ongoing are Kofikum, Otweikaa and Gomoa Odumasi. People in these areas were said to rely on the nearby bushes as places of convenience. Inaugurating the Obo Yambo and Aboano projects, the Country Director of Plan Ghana, Mr Samuel Paulos, said the project, the first in the area was a six-month pilot project. He urged community leaders in the area to ensure that most households acquire their own latrines and continued to maintain clean environment.

Mr Paulos advised them to always wash their hands with soap after visiting and using the toilet facility. He said such habit would reduce diarrhoea incidence and or prevent it entirely as well as check malaria and other diseases associated with poor sanitary and environmental conditions. The Southern Sector Manager of Plan Ghana, Mrs Emelia Allan commended the people the two communities for their contributions toward the successful completion of the facilities and urged the other communities to emulate their example. The District Chief Executive for Agona East, Mr Denise Frimpong, was grateful to the NGOs for the assistance and promised that the Assembly would provide roofing sheets to communities yet to complete their projects.

Two wheel barrows, three shovels, four rakes and two pick-axes each were presented to the people of Obo Yambo and Aboano.