A staggering 2,049 cases of Guinea Worm Disease were reported in 2000 in the Savelugu/Nanton district Ghana - the highest rate in the country.

In October 2010, only six cases were recorded.

This incredible development is in part thanks to Childreach International Ghana’s Water Harvesting Project, which is to be implemented across six schools in the region.

The latest water harvesting tank at Nyogolo Basic School was handed over to the local community on Tuesday, in a ceremony attended by the Director of Nursing Services at the public Health Directorate in the Savelugu/Nanton District, Ms Vivian Okia.

Ms Okia highlighted the previous severity of the problem, which placed the district’s Guinea Worm Disease rate as one of the highest in the world.

“This is the district that was rated the second to Sudan in the whole world,” she stated.

How it works

The rain harvesting tank is connected to the roof of the school, and collects rain water which is then filtered into the tank for use.

Fredrick Sarfo, our Ghana Country Director, said Childreach International Ghana committed to the project in response to a request from the local authorities and communities for safe water.

Mr. Alidu Haruna, headmaster of the school, said the lack of safe water was one of the main challenges the school faced.

Mr. Haruna commented that without the water tank, “The water problem was affecting the education of children”.



Check out the full article reported by Ghanaian press.

Water Harvesting Tanks are reducing the threat of Guinea Worm Disease and letting children enjoy their education. Help us continue building by giving.