The District Environmental Health Officer for the Agotime-Ziope District, Millicent Mensah, has underscored the importance of the National Sanitation Day initiative in promoting environmental cleanliness and preventing sanitation-related diseases within communities.

According to Ms Mensah, the National Sanitation Day, reintroduced by John Dramani Mahama, seeks to encourage citizens across the country to actively participate in monthly clean-up exercises aimed at maintaining hygienic surroundings and improving public health.

Speaking during a sanitation exercise in Agotime-Ziope, Ms Mensah indicated that the initiative is being observed simultaneously across districts in Ghana to ensure cleaner communities nationwide.

She noted that while the national exercise is generally observed on the first Saturday of every month, the Agotime-Ziope District has adopted a different schedule due to local traditional practices.

"In Agotime-Ziope, every Thursday is observed as a taboo day, therefore, we conduct our sanitation exercise on the first Thursday of every month instead of the first Saturday," she explained.

Ms Mensah stated that the district continues to battle sanitation-related illnesses, particularly typhoid fever and diarrhoeal diseases, including dysentery, which she said have been identified through health data collected within the district.

She emphasised that improving household sanitation infrastructure, especially the construction and use of household latrines, could significantly reduce the prevalence of such diseases.

"Typhoid cases can reduce drastically if households have access to and make use of proper toilet facilities," she said.

The Environmental Health Officer also called on food vendors to undergo regular medical screening to ensure they are free from communicable diseases that could threaten public health.

She stressed that maintaining a clean environment should not be left to authorities alone but requires the collective responsibility of every resident.

"It is everyone’s responsibility to keep his or her surroundings clean so that together, we can achieve a cleaner and healthier district," she encouraged.

The sanitation exercise in Agotime-Ziope formed part of efforts by the District Assembly and environmental health officials to promote cleanliness, reduce disease outbreaks, and encourage community participation in environmental management.

On his part, the District Chief Executive, Alfred Odikro, commended the residents for their efforts to keep their environments clean.

He assured that he is committed to ensuring health care delivery in the area is prioritise, and urged residents to support the president and the leadership of Agortime Ziope District.

Meanwhile, Madam Peace Gbafa, the Assembly Member for the area, appealed to the people to always ensure they keep their environments clean and always get involved in communal labour.

She expressed her joy and satisfaction over the turnout during the clean up exercise. 

Ms Gbafa warned that anyone who failed to get involved in any communal labour will be dealt with.