Potable water alone does not eradicate guinea worm - Deputy Minister

Diare (NR), Feb. 7, GNA - Mr. Christopher Addae, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing has observed that the existence of good drinking water alone was not the only means of eradicating the guinea worm disease.

He said the commitment and will power of stakeholders to embark on a crusade towards the eradication of the disease was one sure way to eliminate guinea worm infestation in the communities.

Mr. Addae made these observations when he commissioned separate water projects for the people of Diare and Balishie, guinea worm endemic communities in the Savelugu/Nanton District on Tuesday.

The projects are under the French government funded Small Town Water Supply System to provide quality drinking water to communities, especially guinea worm endemic areas in the Northern Region. Seven Districts in the Northern Region, namely; Bole,

Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Central Gonja, West Gonja, East Gonja, Savelugu/Nanton and Tolon/Kumbungu are benefiting from the nine million-Euro projects. The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) and the French Development Agency (AFD) facilitated the projects.

Mr. Addae said the provision of the projects in the region attested to the government's commitment to fair development throughout the country.

He said adequate resources had been mobilised towards enhancing rural and small town access to safe water and acceptable sanitation and called on guinea worm endemic communities to partner with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to achieve the desired results.

Mr. Pierre Jacquemot, French Ambassador in Ghana, commended the CWSA for actively supervising the projects, which started about four years ago, for efficient and quick delivery.

He called for the active involvement and collaboration of both the District Assemblies and the rural communities in planning their developmental needs to meet the aspirations of the people. He said apart from providing the people with small town water systems, some 72 institutional latrines would also be constructed in health centres, schools and market places to enhance environmental hygiene in the communities.

Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, called on stakeholders to redouble their efforts and work together to help eliminate the guinea worm disease.