Ghana WASH Week 2024
National Stakeholder Dialogue
WASH services for enhancing public health and disease prevention
Published on: 08/07/2024
Globally, it has been acknowledged that the provision of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) have broad public health benefits that reduce multiple diseases and contribute to non-disease outcomes. As such, placing WASH at the forefront of public health initiatives is essential for improving community health and reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases such as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
NTDs are a diverse group of communicable diseases that affect more than a billion people and cost developing economies billions of dollars every year. Ghana is endemic for over 12 of the NTDs, with the Central Region implicated in 20 of the 22 (90.9%) Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs), including Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly (National NTDs programme).
Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly (UDEMA) and the Municipal Health Department (MHD) together with IRC developed the ANESVAD-funded District WASH and NTDs Masterplan in 2022. In March 2023, the implementation start-up phase - 'WASH services in skin-NTDs endemic areas—Improving Health and Quality of Life,' was launched. The implementation of the plan has since commenced and progressing sturdily. The intent is to contribute to mitigating the incidence/ prevalence of skin related NTDs through the achievement of safe and sustainable water and sanitation for all in the municipality.
This national dialogue advocates for comprehensive WASH programs that incorporate infrastructure development, health education, and consistent maintenance to ensure lasting health benefits for all. The session will open with a brief welcome, overview of the national NTDs-WASH situation, then to the specific case of Upper Denkyira East municipality – the WASH-NTDs masterplan and its implementation, marketplace discussions and the way forward.
Date: July 10, 2024| 10:00 – 13:00
Venue: Sunlodge Hotel, Tesano – Accra
Programme
10:00 > Opening Prayer/ Self Introduction - Facilitators
10:05 > Welcome comments - CONIWAS
10:15 > General Overview (WASH-NTDs in Ghana) - Ghana Health Service (NTDs Unit/ NTDs Secretariat)
10:40 > Brief presentation (Upper Denkyira East: WASH-NTDs masterplan/ implementation) - IRC / UDEMA / MHD
11:10 > Questions & Answers - All/ Facilitator
11:40 > Snack break - All
11:55 > Pannel Discussion - GHS |NTDs Secretariat |UDEMA | MHD
12:40 > Closing comments / Wrap-up Facilitator - CONIWAS
12:45 > Closing prayer - Facilitator
13:00 > Group photo/Lunch /Departure - All
