Intensify Public Health Education-Mayor Urges Media

Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has decried low level of attention and support to public health education by the Media, to ensure improved environmental sanitation in Accra. He noted that vigorous public health education, sensitization and awareness-creation were the major waste and sanitation management tools the Media must employ, to change the bahavioural problem that the AMA needs to confront. Dr Vanderpuije made these remarks at a press briefing on Wednesday, and said waste and sanitation management was seen as a government responsibility, but that perception and expectation had changed, hence the need to introduce the Polluter Pay System (PPS) for residents to pay, to ensure the proper collection of waste in Accra. He expressed regret that out of 117,-000 registered households in the metropolis, only 47 per cent pay for the collection of waste. Dr Vanderpuije acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, as well as the role of the private sector in waste management services, to help mitigate the growing challenge of waste. He cautioned that even though there was a reduction in the number of people infected by cholera last year, �we cannot be complacent about it as it can come back and spread faster,� hence the need to devise strategies aimed at addressing it and create more awareness on good hygiene. He disclosed that the new engineered landfill site under construction at Danchira in Ga West, would be commissioned by January next year. �Sewerage lines in the Accra Metropolis are all going to start operation, to ensure the effective treatment of liquid waste generated to support the treatment plant at East Legon,� he stressed. The Accra Mayor said his focus was on working in partnership with waste management companies as a short-term measure to make Accra clean. Dr Vanderpuije has donated 500 pieces of Asbestos roofing sheets at the cost of GHC15,000, to the fishermen at Chorkor whose houses were hit by a heavy storm on Monday.