Sustainable Development Focus (SUDEF), a Sunyani-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) has trained 46 Community Water Operators in water disinfection in Newmont Main-Take areas of Brong-Ahafo Region.

Mr John Baidoo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SUDEF made this known to Ghana News Agency in an interview in Sunyani on Wednesday as part of this year’s commemoration of the World Toilet Day.

Mr Baidoo said since the establishment of his outfit two years ago, SUDEF, which deals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene had so far associated itself in national and international celebrations like Menstrual Hygiene Management, Global Hand-Washing Day, among others.

He mentioned Susuanso Cluster of schools in the Tano North District of the region as one area SUDEF had supported in terms of Menstrual Hygiene Management and also assisted in organising educational workshop for some teachers on community health education, in parts of the region.

Meanwhile, a statement issued in Sunyani by SUDEF signed by its CEO in commemoration with this year’s World Toilet Day, which falls every year on November 19 indicated poor sanitation system in the country is having serious health impact on the lives of the public.

The celebration is within the framework of the United Nations International Year of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and World Toilet Day.

According to the statement this year’s commemoration is on the theme: “Equality and Dignity.”

It indicated that about 2.6 billion people worldwide are without access to proper sanitation.

It said the sanitation deficiency was impacting negatively on the health of people, stripping their dignity and killing 1.8 million people, mostly children every year.

The statement explained that the theme for this year’s international celebration is aimed at raising awareness on the importance of good sanitation and finding solutions to the challenges of the situation of about half world’s population who do not have access to proper sanitation.

“There is a sanitation challenge globally which remains huge and continues to impact on the health, dignity, and quality of life of people especially the poor living in overcrowded slums in cities,” it said.

The statement prescribed preventive measures for the challenges saying safe disposal of children’s faeces leads to a reduction of nearly 40 per cent in child diarrhoea, one gram of faeces could contain 10 million viruses, one million bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts and 100 parasite eggs.

Poor water and sanitation costs Sub-Saharan Africa around five per cent of its GDP each year, equivalent to the amount of aid the continent currently receives from western nations, the statement said.

It said for every £1 invested in water and sanitation, £8 is returned in increased economic productivity.

For Ghanaian's to benefit from the good impact of the celebration, the statement suggested the need for the public to be sensitised to embrace the activities of National Community Water and Sanitation strategy; as well as the Community-Led Total Sanitation’ initiative with all zeal and seriousness.

The World Toilet Day should also ensure that majority of people have access to safe and hygienic toilets, in addition to educating the public to avoid open defecation.