Bui Power Authority to help curb outbreak of communicable diseases in Tsiaveme

The Bui Power Authority has contributed to ensuring proper sanitation practices to help curb the outbreak of communicable diseases in Tsiaveme in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region.

The power-producing company through its corporate social responsibility constructed a mechanized borehole and a modern sanitary facility.

This is geared towards improving sanitation in the community where open defecation was rampant.

Tsiaveme is a farming community located along the Ho-Denu road in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region.

The community with a population of about 1,200 residents did not have enough sanitary facilities, hence most residents engaged in open defecation.

The assembly member, Samuel Amable Agbeshie, said there were incidents of bad sanitation practices as the only pit latrine in the community was not safe for use.

He added that some people sneak to use the sanitary facility constructed for the community basic school, while others engage in ‘free range’.

“We have a very poor sanitary condition over here. At Tsiaveme, honestly we don’t have a public toilet. The one we have is a pit latrine, which is not usable”, he said.

He disclosed that the community also lacked access to potable water, compelling residents to rely on water from a dam, which animals also drink from.

The resident also harvest rainwater during the rainy season for domestic use, as boreholes constructed in the community only produced saline water.

According to stakeholders, relying on water from the dam coupled with open defecation contributed to frequent outbreaks of communicable diseases in Tsiavenu.

The Ketu North Municipal Environmental Health officer, detailed that a recent screening of food vendors in the community revealed prevalence of typhoid.

“The recent screening we did for food vendors here, there were a lot of typhoid”, he said.

Learning of the plight of the community, the Bui Power Authority channeled GH₵‎ 650,000 towards the construction of a modern sanitary facility and a mechanized borehole facility to serve the community.

The Chief Executive Officer of Bui Power Authority, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, said his outfit aims to help improve sanitation in the community, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

He said the entity is poised to construct projects that would enhance livelihoods within its operational jurisdiction.

He added that they are undertaking an Excellent Center Project in Alavanyo, to serve as a one-stop center for the training of engineers as well as tap about 4 megawatts of power off the Wli Waterfalls.

“We also trying to develop the Bui Power along the coast of Anloga and its environs”, he added.

The residents of Tsiaveme lauded Bui Power Authority for the initiative and promised to ensure proper maintenance of the facility.

They, however, appealed for the mechanized borehole to be extended to sections of the community for easy access.