Bongo: 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 at improving nutrition, sanitation, and maternal and child health outcomes. The projects also strive to promote sustainable hygiene practices, safe water use, and community-driven nutrition solutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, these initiatives build on earlier interventions by WaterAid Ghana in Atampintin and Adaboya, which significantly reduced anaemia among pregnant women and children under five in the beneficiary communities. The WASH-Nutrition Plus project is scheduled to run from September 2025 to August 2026, while the Good Health Begins Here project will span from October 2025 to March 2028.
Ms Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, explained that the WASH-Nutrition Plus initiative is an expansion of earlier pilot programs in Atampintin and Adaboya. These programs 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.
Additionally, the Good Health Begins Here project will focus on behavior change campaigns targeting pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as household members who support them, to eliminate diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. "Development takes all of us to make it happen, and through these projects, we hope to accelerate service delivery, strengthen systems, and sustain behavior change at homes, clinics, schools, and marketplaces," she noted.
Mrs. Estella Abazesi, the Bongo District Director of 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 of 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 centers 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 Programs at WaterAid, emphasized the importance of community commitment for the successful implementation of the projects. 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 noted that the projects are timely and transformative in addressing preventable diseases linked to poor sanitation and malnutrition.
Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, expressed gratitude to WaterAid for their commitment to improving WASH in the District over the years and pledged support for the success of the projects.