A team of Environmental Health Officers from the Oti Regional Environmental Health Office (REHO) have embarked on a three-day verification exercise on Open Defecation Free (ODF) status of the Jasikan Municipality. The officials from the Regional Directorate of Environmental Health are conducting a house-to-house verification of household toilets and waste management systems to confirm Jasikan Municipality's ODF status and identify areas for improvement. Mr Enoch Enyram Kwa-Mensah, the Deputy Regional Environmental Health Officer, urged community members to properly dispose of toilet tissues to prevent the spread of houseflies. He explained the importance of proper waste management during a house-to-house verification exercise in the communities, adding that toilet tissues could attract houseflies and spread diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Madam Cynthia Sekyere, the Regional Director of Environmental Health Officer (REHO) said the verification exercise would testify if Jasikan Municipality qualified to the status of ODF based on their request. 'This exercise was under auspicious of Plan International Ghana, which provided training on latrine construction and maintenance, promoting community-led total sanitation initiatives, supported ten community households access to improved sanitation facilities in the Municipality.' The communities include, Atonkor, Akaa, Atwereboana, Udey, Nananka, Lekanti, Dzoku, Asele Ketsi-Nkwanta and Koesim. She reaffirmed the department's dedication to ensuring public health and hygiene in the Oti Region and emphasised the crucial nature of verifying open defecation free (OPD) status in communities. 'Open defecation is a persistent issue, particularly in rural areas, with approximately 892 million people worldwide practicing it due to lack of access to proper sanitation facilities.' She said this practice has severe consequences, which include the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid as well as vector-b orne diseases. Madam Sekyere said their commitment to public health is a step towards achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Target 6.2, which aims to end open defecation by 2030. Some communities visited such as Atonkor, Akaa and Twereboana, the residents have expressed appreciation for the verification exercise, pledging to maintain their ODF status. Plan International Ghana's efforts align with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Target 6,2, aiming to ensure open defecation and ensure universal access to safe sanitation. Source: Ghana News Agency