Accra: Dr Fiona Braka, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative to Ghana, has urged Ghanaians to make environmental cleanliness a daily habit to improve sanitation, protect the environment, and prevent disease outbreaks.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Braka made the call in an interview while leading members of the international community, including UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP), to participate in the two-day National General Cleaning Exercise. She emphasized that while national clean-up exercises were essential, their impact would only be lasting if individuals and communities adopted cleanliness as a culture and lifestyle.
Dr Braka highlighted the need for cleanliness to become part of the culture and habits of the people. "It should become part of our culture and our habit. We all have a role to play in ensuring that the environment we live in is clean and safe," she stated. The two-day exercise, declared by the government for July 10 and 11 in seven flood-affected regions, was held under the theme "Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the Floods." It mobilised security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, waste management companies, development partners, and the public to desilt drains, clear refuse, and improve sanitation.
Dr Braka, who is also Acting United Nations Ghana Resident Coordinator, pointed out that pollution and poor sanitation continue to pose significant public health risks. "We have to be aware of the risks associated with pollution and poor sanitation and how they affect our health," she noted. She urged households to take practical steps to reduce pollution by cutting down on the use of plastics, disposing of waste responsibly, and maintaining clean surroundings.
Dr Braka stressed that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that requires the participation of every citizen. "We don't just stop at doing this as a national exercise. It must become a culture and a way of life for all of us. Let us all play our role because it is a collective effort," she affirmed. She expressed hope that the momentum generated by the two-day exercise would be sustained beyond the campaign period and translated into everyday actions by individuals, households, and communities.