Monday, September 08, 2008

Serious about sanitation...

The last week has been so busy that I really didn't find the time to sit and write. Bad excuse given that everyone else is confronted with similar issues am sure. Did read an interesting report on sanitation though that I have been mulling over for the past week.

Ideally, I wanted to take a picture of the sign by the gallery on the beach road to accompany this post - the one that says ' no parking, no stopping, no toileting' but I think I will have to go and take that another time.

The report was one done for the International Year of Sanitation (that is this year), and looked at a number of Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana. It looked at a number of issues related to sanitation including ranking of countries on various criteria and the stats for Ghana was shocking to say the least.

  • Ghana is ranked 48 out of 51 countries with the worse progress in sanitation. Those performing below Ghana were: Niger, Eritrea and Chad
  • Out of 15 West African countries, Ghana is placed 14th with Niger at 15
  • It is estimated that in West Africa alone 211 million people lack access to basic sanitation, with Ghana accounting for at least 20 million
Sobering to say the least. Click here for the full report. Another eye opener was the BBC iReport aired a couple of weeks ago on e-waste. Compiled on data gathered by Greenpeace it makes one seriously sit up and wonder.

Been trying to rack my brains (or what is left of them) to see what can be done - even if it's my own individual level in terms of how I take care of my own immediate surroundings. Am also trying to encourage my Rotary Club to implement a sanitation project this year.

It just feels a pity just to sit back and only complain - after all we live here don't we?

4 comments:

The Author said...

Interesting piece (for your style of writing) and also for all the wrong reasons. The even sadder thing, is I am not surprised by the stats. Well, maybe the bit about only about 1 million Ghanaians having access to good sanitation (or practising it) was sobering.

Denise said...

Hmmm, curious Nana Yaw about your comment re my style of writing - what did you mean? I think I know what you mean but would prefer not to guess.
That said, it was something I just felt that needed to be said as is - no clever alliterations, no cute word disguises, no nothing. Just the truth.

The Author said...

Denise, your style, in a sentence, is: the charm of the simple and direct word. Not many people can manage that. I know I cannot. That's why you always have my genuine praise. It is effective in saying exactly what you want to say and being understood ditto.

Denise said...

Thanks for that Nana Yaw. As someone whose writing style I very much admire and often times am inspired by, it means a lot coming from you.