WaterAid Ghana, in partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other stakeholders, has launched two health-focused initiatives, the WASH-Nutrition Plus (WN+) and the Good Health Begins Here projects in the Bongo District.
The two projects are set to benefit three communities namely; Atampisi, Kadaare and Tankoo, aimed among other things to improve nutrition, sanitation, and maternal and child health outcomes.
The projects also aim to promote sustainable hygiene practices, safe water use, and community-driven nutrition solutions.
They are building on earlier interventions by WaterAid Ghana in Atampintin and Adaboya, that had contributed significantly to a reduction in anaemia among pregnant women and children under-five years in the beneficiary communities.
The WASH-Nutrition Plus project would run from September 2025 to August 2026, while the Good Health Begins Here project would span between October 2025 and March 2028.
Ms Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, explained that the WASH-Nutrition Plus initiative was an expansion of earlier pilot programmes in Atampintin and Adaboya, which equipped women with skills to establish year-round gardens and adopt improved cooking methods to enhance family nutrition.
“Through this project, anemia records have drastically dropped in these Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) zones, and part of the lessons learned is what is bringing the Nutrition Plus Project,” she said.
She added that the Good Health Begins Here project would focus on behaviour change campaigns targeting pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as household members who support them, to eliminate diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea.
“Development takes all of us to make it happen, and through these projects we hope to accelerate service delivery, strengthen systems, and sustain behaviour change at homes, clinics, schools, and marketplaces,” she noted.
Mrs Estella Abazesi, the Bongo District Director if the Ghana Health Service, highlighted the health challenges that inspired the partnership, noting that anaemia rates among pregnant women in Bongo had reached alarming levels, with some facilities recording nearly 2,000 blood transfusions annually for women and children.
“As at mid-2025, while the overall district anaemia rate stood at 36 per 100 pregnant women, in intervention communities, it dropped to less than 20 per 100, showing a clear impact of the project,” she said.
She commended WaterAid Ghana for also improving WASH facilities in health centres and CHPS compounds in the district, which had contributed to reductions in neonatal infections and maternal deaths.
“With these interventions, Bongo has no match in the region. For three years running, we have been the best-performing district in maternal and neonatal health,” she stated.
Ms Amaka Godfrey, the Executive Director for International Programmes at WaterAid, said the commitment and zeal of beneficiary communities were key for the successful implementation of the projects and urged them to be committed and contribute positively to its success.
Mr Donatus Atanga Akastated, the Upper East Regional Minister, described the launch as “a full declaration of intent, a pledge of progress, and a symbol of hope for the people of Bongo and beyond.”
He said the projects were timely and transformative in addressing preventable diseases linked to poor sanitation and malnutrition.
“Clean water, proper sanitation, balanced nutrition, and preventive care are the true foundations of any strong and healthy society. Let us ensure this launch does not end in rhetoric but delivers real results,” he said and pledging the Regional Coordinating Council’s full support to sustain the initiatives.
Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, expressed gratitude to WaterAid for their commitment in improving WASH in the District over the years and pledged support for the success of the projects.