N/R sachet water producers assures consumers

Tamale (N/R), April 8, GNA - The Sachet Water Producers Association (SWPA) of the Northern Region, has assured residents of pure and clean water to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases, especially cholera in the region. To this end, members of SWPA have been cooperating with the authorities of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) in the region for periodic assessments of their production standards, to ensure that sachet water put on sale in the was pure, clean, and safe for human consumption.

Alhaji Awudu Musah, President of SWPA said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, on Thursday. Alhaji Musah, who is also the Managing Director of Kumbatachua Enterprise Limited, producers of BATACHUO Sachet Water, said members of the Association had adopted a three-system filtration process, which ensures adequate and proper filtration avoid any water-borne disease.

He said about 80 per cent of sachet water producers in the region derived their source of water from the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), adding that, contrary to assertions, the producers use Ultra Violet Light technology, which killed germs in the water and the plastic sachets in which the water was packaged.

Statistics shows that, the FDB has certified only two companies, and permitted 98 others, pending certification, to produce sachet water in the region, a situation which raises concerns amongst some residents about the quality level of the produce.

They said the FDB lack the capacity, in terms of staff and logistics, to properly monitor the operations of the producers to ensure that they adhere to the safety standards.

Most people were of the view that since rainy season in the region will soon begin, and with the current poor sanitary levels, a lot of measures needs to be put in place by the district assemblies, to avert an outbreak of diseases.

Another concern was how food vendors handle their wares, with some of them serving food such as rice and 91waakye', among others, with their bare hands to customers and use the same hands to collect their money.

However, Alhaji Musah said 93there is no cause for alarm" adding that, SWPA would report any water producer not registered or did not comply with the best standards to the FDB for sanctions to be taken against such a producer.

He said the recent 100 per cent increase on the price of sachet water in the country had made some people in the region to resort to other sources for drinking water, other than the sachet water and called on such people to stop the practice, to avoid the outbreak of cholera in the region.

Mr Sylvester Oteng Kyei, Northern Regional Zonal Officer of the FDB, told the GNA in an interview in Tamale, on Thursday that, his outfit had intensified the monitoring of the water producers to ensure that they complied with the best standards. Mr Kyei said the FDB would penalize producers who breached safety standards, adding that, compliance with safety standards so far had been impressive amongst producers.

He called on residents to practice personal, environmental, and food hygiene to prevent the outbreak of cholera in the region. He assured that the FDB had the requisite personnel and logistics to fully monitor the operations of the high number of sachet water producers in the region.

Meanwhile, the Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate has set up a collaborative team comprising National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana Health Service, amongst other institutions, to embark on 93a house-to-house education" of residents to prevent the outbreak of cholera in the region. Mr Steve Adongo, Northern Regional Environmental Officer, who disclosed this in an interview with the GNA in Tamale, on Thursday, said the collaborative team was also educating food vendors and chop bar operators on safety standards to ensure the safety of those who patronized their services. 8 April 11