Keta: Residents of Keta in the Volta Region are sounding the alarm about the increasing practice of open defaecation in the area, particularly at the sea and lagoon shores which threaten the health of the public. This practice has raised concerns about the likelihood of a cholera outbreak which could have severe consequences on the communities in the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, the cause of open defaecation in Keta is multifaceted. Some residents have attributed it to the lack of adequate toilet facilities, while others believe it is due to a lack of awareness about the risks associated with the practice. Madam Success Sika Dovlo, a retired Nurse and Public Health Promotion Officer at Keta, indicated that some effects of open defaecation could have severe consequences for the environment and human health.
She explained that when human waste is deposited into the sea or other water bodies, it can contaminate the water and pose a risk to human health. Open defecation may also attract disease-carrying insects and rodents, further increasing the risk of disease transmission. Preventing open defecation requires a multifaceted approach, including the provision of adequate toilet facilities and the promotion of good hygiene practices. Communities are urged to work together to create awareness about the risks associated with open defecation and promote behavior change.
Madam Dovlo noted that solving the challenges of open defecation needs a collaborative effort from all stakeholders. She emphasized that district assemblies could play a crucial role in providing resources and support to communities to address the issue, while communities themselves can work together to identify solutions and implement them. Open defaecation is associated with diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery, which can have severe consequences for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.
She also highlighted how many residents in and around Keta Municipality resort to defecating at the shores of the Keta lagoon and the sea, endangering the health of aquatic animals and consumers. She called on the district health sanitation department to form a task force to help prevent open defecation and punish offenders to deter others. The task force could also raise awareness and provide education and training to communities before enforcing sanitation regulations.
She urged landlords to ensure their properties have toilet facilities to prevent open defecation. Fisherfolks in Keta have lamented about the practice, believing it contaminates water bodies and poses health risks. They have called for urgent action from stakeholders like assembly members, unit committee members, and the Municipal Chief Executive to work together to provide adequate toilet facilities and promote good hygiene practices.
GNA observed that open defecation is prevalent in communities such as Keta central, Abutiakope, Tetevikope, Vodza, Adzido, Kedzi, Havedzi, and Anlo-Afiadenyigba. The United Nations estimates that about 892 million people worldwide practice open defecation, a major contributor to the spread of cholera and other diseases in coastal communities in Ghana.
