World Vision Ghana (WVG) is embarking on a project to construct boreholes and sanitary facilities in six communities in the Sekyere East District of Ashanti.

The project, which is being done in collaboration with the District Assembly is to provide easy access to safe and potable water, while improving hygiene in the most vulnerable rural communities and smaller towns in the District.

About 13,400 people from Bomso, Akuakrom, Seniagya, Odurokrom, Feyiase and Asukokor are expected to benefit from the project.

Discussions are also ongoing to mechanize the boreholes to extend water supply to the adjoining villages of the six communities.

Mr Joseph Kwogyenga, the Sekyere East Cluster Manager of WVG, speaking at a ceremony at Bomso to start the project, said the intervention was under its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.

The aim is to improve hygiene and sanitary conditions in rural communities while providing access to safe drinking water to reduce waterborne diseases and improve the health status of rural people.

Mr. Kwogyenga said the toilets facilities were being constructed in the basic
schools in the beneficiary communities to help pupils and teachers have easy
access to these facilities.

He said WVG was committed to improving the living conditions in rural communities and provided them with opportunities that would elevate them from abject poverty.

Mr. Emmanuel Arthur, Community Development Officer of the Sekyere East District,said the intervention by WVG and the District Assembly would help the communities have easy access to uninterrupted supply of water and toilet facilities, which had been a challenge to the communities over the years.

He called on the community members to cooperate with the contractors to ensure
early completion of the projects.

Mr Arthur also urged them to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities to
prolong their lifespan.

Mrs. Georgina Harriet Nyamekeh, the WASH Officer of Sekyere East Cluster of WVG said, intensive community education campaign has been mounted to sensitize the people, especially school children in the communities on the need to ensure proper personal hygiene at all times to reduce infections and spread of diseases.

She called for additional financial support to help extend water and hygiene
facilities to cover more people in the District.