Kumbungu: HOPin Academy, a community-based organisation in Tamale, has handed over modern toilet facilities to the Kumbungu Health Centre, the Kumbungu Senior High School, and some market traders, to help improve sanitation and curb open defecation in the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, the facilities included modern, hygienic toilets equipped with handwashing stations, polytanks, and safe water points. These were designed to address critical sanitation challenges and improve health outcomes for patients, healthcare workers, students, and the wider Kumbungu community.
The project was funded by the Grundfos Foundation and aimed to promote good hygiene and environmental health within schools and health institutions in the Kumbungu District. Mr MacCarthy Mac-Gbathy, Founder and Executive Director of HOPin Academy, explained that the initiative is part of the organisation's broader Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.
Mr Mac-Gbathy emphasized the importance of access to basic sanitation, stating it as a fundamental human right. He highlighted the tireless efforts of HOPin Academy, in collaboration with the Grundfos Foundation, local stakeholders, and partners like Fix That Pump, over the past year to complete the project.
The Executive Director noted that these facilities not only address immediate health concerns but also contribute to investing in the future of youths, mothers, and children, while strengthening the resilience of the healthcare system. Mr Leon Roland Elongue Akame from Grundfos Foundation reiterated their commitment to sustainable development initiatives in underserved communities and expressed satisfaction in partnering with HOPin Academy.
Mr Peter Adda, Kumbungu District Environmental Health Officer, praised the contributions of HOPin Academy and the Grundfos Foundation. He called for the extension of similar projects to other communities and schools and urged landlords to construct household toilets to reduce open defecation.
Mr Simon Agongo, Assistant Headmaster of Kumbungu Senior High School, expressed gratitude for the initiative. Madam Moro Jutta, Head of Kumbungu Sub-District Health Centre, highlighted the project's impact in providing patients with decent sanitation facilities, easing their previous struggles.
