Lawrence Appiah Kwarteng, the Asma Camp WATSAN Committee Chair
Addressing Water Needs and Skin-NTDs in Upper Denkyira East
Published on: 25/11/2024
Asma Camp is one of the areas endemic with skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Upper Denkyira East, in the Central Region of Ghana. The community has faced significant challenges in accessing clean water.
Lawrence Appiah Kwarteng, the Asma Camp WATSAN Committee Chair, said, "For a long time, our community relied on a single borehole, which did not have the best yields, making it difficult to always have access to clean water. The community sometimes resorts to open sources during downtimes. This situation often results in the spread of skin-related NTDs, which are believed to be caused by the water we use."
The commencement of the ANESVAD-funded new water facility has brought immense joy to the community. Construction is now underway, and training on how to manage the facility and maintain cleanliness around it has been provided by the implementing partners, and a management committee has been formed. Additional training on the early detection and reporting of skin-related NTD cases has also been carried out.
To ensure the sustainability of the facility, the community is considering operating a pay-as-you-fetch model or agreed monthly contribution. This is to generate and save funds to pay for future repairs. Although the facility is still under construction, the committee has opened an account to save the funds that will be generated from sales.
The community is eagerly awaiting the flow of clean water to help reduce the incidence of skin-related NTDs. The committee chair hopes that other communities will also benefit from similar water projects, gaining access to clean water and improving their quality of life.
In this short video, the Asma Camp WATSAN Committee chair reflects on the new facility and its potential impact on the community.
