Residents of Kumi District have been called upon to embrace proper hygiene, sanitation, and environmental conservation as the district joins the rest of the country in commemorating Sanitation Week.
Speaking during the commemoration activities, Moses Oonyu, the Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Environmental Health, expressed appreciation for the district’s active participation in the campaign.
He noted that districts nationwide had been directed to use the week to sensitize communities on environmental protection, proper waste management, sanitation practices, and tree planting initiatives.
The call comes after many people have neglected cleanliness, opting instead to dump rubbish on walkways and in markets, leaving the municipality very dirty and making garbage collection challenging.
Most residents and vendors scatter rubbish and plastic bags without collecting them in designated areas, complicating the process of waste management.
Oonyu encouraged residents to safeguard existing trees and plant more to improve the district’s environment and combat environmental degradation.
He acknowledged the progress made in infrastructural development, particularly the improved road network in Kumi Town, but raised concerns over persistent littering and poor waste disposal habits among some residents.
“The community is being sensitized not to dump garbage carelessly around town but to make proper use of the litter bins provided with the support of the Lions Club,” Oonyu explained.
He further revealed that African Water Solutions was partnering with Kumi District to strengthen sanitation and hygiene activities across the municipality.
Cleaning teams had already been deployed to the new market in Kumi Municipal Council to remove accumulated waste, while road gangs and sanitation workers were ensuring proper garbage collection and disposal.
Oonyu praised the organization for its continued support in maintaining cleanliness in health facilities and communities across the district. “The wards are now clean and shining because unnecessary waste materials, garbage, and litter have been removed,” he said.
Oonyu urged residents to make cleanliness a personal responsibility both at home and in public areas, warning that poor sanitation remains a major contributor to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. “People should wash their hands regularly, use latrines both at home and in institutions, and dispose of waste responsibly,” he emphasized.
Catherine Anyait Benner, a Programs Field Officer with Africa Water Solutions in Kumi District, revealed that the organization currently operates two major programs in the district — the WASH Program and the Girl Plus Program.
Anyait explained that girls supported under the Girl Plus Program had joined the sanitation campaign as part of community service activities aimed at promoting responsibility and civic engagement.
“We support these girls with school fees, but we also encourage them to give back to their communities through service activities such as cleaning public spaces and health facilities,” she noted.
She added that Africa Water Solutions considered it important to contribute to the district’s Sanitation Week activities through active participation in community cleaning exercises.
Patients and caretakers at the Health Centre IV applauded both Kumi District authorities and their development partners for the joint initiative, saying the cleaning activities had significantly improved hygiene standards within the health facility and the surrounding municipality.
SOURCE: URN
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