faecal sludge disposal and health implications in Ejura-Sekyedumase municipality.

Abstract

Solid waste and faecal sludge management in situations of rapid mass displacement are important to public health and providing for a better environment. Despite this, both have been neglected in Water Sanitation and Hygiene programs, which tend to have a focus on water. However, increasing efforts are being made to find solutions to challenges in solid waste and faecal sludge management in difficult circumstances in humanitarian emergencies.Safe disposal of excreta, so that it does not contaminate the environment, water, food or hands, is essential for ensuring a healthy environment and for protecting personal health. Regardless of method, the safe disposal of human faeces is one of the principal ways of breaking the faecal–oral disease transmission cycle. Provision of improved faecal matter disposal systems is vital in reducing the incidence of faecal diseases. The main purpose of this study is to review faecal sludge disposal practices in the Ejura-Sekyedumase municipalityand its health implications. The study reviews faecal sludge management options used by individuals and the municipality as a whole. In addition, the study analyses the common disease profile of the community in retrospect. The study recorded 64 males with a percentage of 53.3 and 56 females also with a percentage of 46.7 all making up 120 respondents.The number of responses recorded for females in all 3 zones was encouraging, this is because most ladies are concerned about the kind of toilet facilities they use when it comes to where they defecate. Recommendations were made, one being that landlords should make toilet facilities available in their homes thus curbing open defecation and reducing the pressure on public toilets.