As a result, many communities are now embracing modern method using stand pipe or taps to access water. The newest method is safer, convenient and widely accepted. The method doesn’t only lessen drudgery, but also proves to be clean and efficient way of accessing water.
It is important for all to reason that promoting good hygiene and sanitation is key in overcoming many diseases of global threat. Many agree that promoting good hygiene is among the most cost-effective health actions to reduce disease.
According to reports, as of 2022 is estimated that 75% of people globally had access to basic hygiene services in their homes. And improved hygiene practices could prevent 165,000 (or 12% of) deaths caused by diarrhoea around the world each year and 370,000 (13% of) deaths from acute respiratory infections.
It is reported in today’s edition of The Point that the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education last week embarked on a conducted awareness raising targeting adolescents and young girls on hygiene promotion.
The exercise, supported by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), a sub-regional health initiative, attracted students, peer health educators and a cross-section of the communities.
This orientation couldn’t have come at a better time than now when the communities are faced with challenges to good hygiene and sanitation.
From food to environmental threats like pollution, many people are exposed to these alarming environmental threats as seen in the number of strange diseases in communities. Also, it has led to alarming gas emissions and unpredictable weather pattern making the earth warmer by the day.
We thank the two ministries for their efforts in raising awareness among local communities. As far as personal and environmental hygiene is concerned, we all have a stake as we live in communities.
Also, there is a need for attitudinal change among the people and the need for ‘each-one, teach-one’ to be able to achieve good results.
In a nutshell, it’s sad that our own action in terms of pollution, burning of harmful chemical products to emitting other dangerous gases released to the atmosphere, is in turn harming us.
People would realise that the extent at which the earth is heating up or warming of recent, is alarming.
Let’s remember that nature is the foundation of our health and well-being, as it provides us with clean air, water and food, among others.
Therefore, we need to protect, promote and preserve the environment for our own good. “If we don’t take care of the environment, the environment would not be able to take care of us.”