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Regional News of Wednesday, 31 December 2003

Source: GNA

AMA to embark on public health education

Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - Dr Nii Ayite Coleman, Director of the Public Health Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), on Tuesday called for a vigorous public health education to ensure environmental sanitation within the city.

He noted that about 80 per cent of the people in metropolis did not obey bylaws on environmental health, which was the basis of the poor waste management and lack of sanitation in Accra.

Addressing Environmental Health Officers of the AMA at an end of year get-together in Accra, Dr Coleman said, "only few people know the existence or have access to the laws or can read and understand those laws so we cannot talk about enforcement when majority of the people are ignorant".

He said the Department would embark on a house-to-house inspection to educate the people on environmental hygiene.

Mr Joseph Aryeetey, Chief Environmental Health Officer, urged staff of the Department to work harder to meet the challenges ahead and warned that those found wanting would be sanctioned.