Access to quality Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services is a cornerstone of improved health and overall well-being, especially for vulnerable groups like children. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness regarding WASH policies has been a major hurdle, preventing communities from engaging with the government and WASH service providers, and fulfilling their own roles in the process.
To bridge this knowledge gap and help communities achieve their WASH goals, Independent Minds Association (IMA), with generous support from World Vision, Ghana, stepped in. They partnered with five communities in the East Gonja Municipality to initiate citizen scorecards on WASH service delivery and WASH standard monitoring.
These tools empowered community members to identify critical indicators essential for enhancing WASH services within their communities. These indicators encompassed access to safe drinking water, availability of handwashing facilities with soap, safe water treatment, storage and usage, construction of household latrines, general hygiene practices, and effective plastic waste management, among other vital factors.
The impact of this initiative was significant, with over 3,000 community members benefiting. Among them were 1,200 children, 600 men, and 1,200 women. Armed with this newfound knowledge, these communities are now taking the lead in advocating for improvements in their WASH situations and initiating self-help projects.
As part of the project, 35 Community Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) groups were formed. These groups are at the forefront of WASH advocacy efforts in their respective communities, driving positive change in WASH services. This initiative is not only transforming lives but also creating a brighter, healthier future for these communities in Ghana.
