Tamale KVIPS Poorly Kept

Following the distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets by the government to combat mosquito bites or malaria coupled with the generally bad sanitation situation in most parts of the Northern Region, Savannahnews takes a critical look at the state of public toilets popularly known as KVIPs within the Tamale Metropolis with particular attention on Lamashegu community in the Tamale South Constituency.

Toilet facilities in the community instead of helping to improve on the sanitation situation of the area have rather turned to be an expletive. The paper discovered that managing public toilets and waste in general has become a very difficult thing for the authorities at the Tamale Metropolis.

Even though Tamale has been adjudged three time cleanest city in Ghana, the evidence on the ground is far from the reality. When Savannahnews first got to Nakpanzoo, one of the communities in Lamashegu, it discovered how a dilapidated KVIP toilet sited in between houses was causing inconveniences and serious environmental hazard to the people.

Distances between the toilet and the nearby houses were not up to five meters. What seems more disgusting was the fact that women and men of high reputes were also seen sharing the same toilet facility simultaneously exposing their dignities to one another.

Meanwhile, a new KVIP built at a different location in the same community for the people had been locked up by the authorities after four months of completion without giving access to the residents. Some of the community members expressed disappointment at the situation.

However, the paper also visited another dilapidated toilet facility near the Internal Revenue Service Regional Office at same Lamashegu also sited in between houses. The KVIP which is almost collapsed was still being used by the people in the area.

It was not only serving as a death trap for children and a playing ground for livestock animals but also posing health dangers on the lives of the people. Even though the Tamale Metro Assembly is taking money from the residents before accessing the KVIP, it is still poorly managed.

Apart from the bad scent around the place, the Assembly is not regular in disposing refuse in the area. However, a new KVIP also built close-by has been locked up after several months of completion.