Community-based environmental hygiene playing vital role in combating communicable diseases: Ministry

The Ministry of Health said that community-based environmental hygiene is playing vital role in the prevention of communicable diseases. Asmara, 3 October 2012 – The Ministry of Health said that community-based environmental hygiene is playing vital role in the prevention of communicable diseases.

Dr. Kesete Araya, head of environmental health department, explained that impressive accomplishments have been registered to this end over the past 3 years, and that use of latrines has visibly grown in remote areas.

Accordingly, 480 villages are currently engaged in promoting construction of latrines at household level, while 200 other are fully resorting to such practice.

Pointing out that the sustainability of such popular initiative in an integrated manner can lead to attaining 80% control on communicable diseases, Dr. Kesete indicated that the Ministry would step up endeavors as regards promoting use of latrines and waste disposal. He also lauded the community participation being demonstrated in endeavors towards ensuring environmental hygiene.