The Upper East Region has marked this year’s World Toilet Day with a call for effective collaboration on the part of stakeholders to put an end to open defecation in communities across the region.

The event which took place at Tongo in the Talensi District was organized by World Vision Ghana (WVG) in collaboration with the Talensi District Assembly.

Statistics available indicate that the Region occupies the first place on the list when it comes to open defecation in the country.

Mr Jonas Abugre, the Development Facilitator of WVG who spoke on behalf of the Area Development Programme Manager, Mr Richard Ananga, indicated that over the years WVG in collaboration with District Assemblies in its operational areas had built the capacity of many communities to initiate Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), that helped to reduce open defecation in those areas.

He stated that WVG had also provided many schools in the District with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities including boreholes, toilets and urinals.

He expressed optimism that with effective collaboration by all stakeholders in tackling the problem of open defecation, the huge sums of money spent by the government in treating sanitation related diseases would be reduced.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Talensi, Mr Edward Awunnore lauded the efforts of the WVG and gave the assurance that the Assembly would continue to partner with all development partners to help address the issue.

The DCE regretted the phenomenon of open defecation in the District and the region as a whole, and said the District apart from collaborating with WVG to initiate WASH programmes, had also put up measures to ensure that all buildings in the area were provided with toilet facilities.

He said the Assembly would continue to partner with other development partners to initiate WASH programmes, particularly CLTS in all communities in the District.

“Whilst the Assembly and its partners continue to play their part, it will also enforce its bye-laws and punish people who engage in open defecation”, the DCE warned.

He called on School sanitation clubs formed by WVG to be ambassadors of good sanitation in their respective communities and help to promote behavioral change, particularly on open defecation.

Prior to the main event, school children from some selected basic schools in the District undertook a route match with placards which some read, Open Defecation can kill, Children are suffering from diseases related to open defecation and Stop Open Defecation among others.