Ensure environmental cleanliness — Builsa South DCE
THE Builsa South District Assembly in the Upper East Region, in collaboration with the District Health Directorate, have embarked on an intensive clean-up campaign and public education programme on the prevention of the Ebola and cholera diseases in the district.
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Led by the District Chief Executive, Madam Elizabeth Afiuc, residents of Fumbisi came out in their numbers to clean the environment and clear choked drains of silt.
Subsequently, in a move to revive communal spirit and keep the environment clean at all times, the assembly has set aside the first Saturday of every month for clean-up exercises. The objective of the exercise is to prevent diseases by keeping the area clean.
As the clean-up exercise wore on, the DCE announced that the assembly had placed a temporary ban on the sale of bush meat. She, therefore, urged residents to comply with the directive to prevent the possible outbreak of the Ebola disease in the area.
According to her, through the District Epidemic Committee, the assembly would continue to initiate moves to intensify public education and vigorously enforce its bye-laws, particularly those on open defaecation, food hygiene and the production and sale of sachet water.
"I entreat you, therefore, to change your attitude with regard to sanitation and take personal responsibility by ensuring cleanliness of your surroundings," Madam Afiuc stressed.
Health situation
According to the District Disease Control Officer, Mr Peter Aluisi, the district recorded 95 cases of diarrhoea in the first half of 2013 compared to 540 cases in the same period of 2014. He observed that the sharp increase in diarrhoea indicated that something was wrong with regard to the health needs of the people, which urgently needed to be put right.
He said further that "the trend is abnormal and that is why the District Epidemic Committee has decided to come out with the clean-up exercises to help reduce the incidence of diarrhoea to the barest minimum".
Concerning the Ebola disease, the disease control officer said members of the Epidemic Committee had intensified education in two Fulani communities in the district. He said the members of the community had been encouraged to not hesitate to report any person suspected to have the disease to the District Epidemic Committee, so that the one could be monitored and taken in for treatment.