Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify causes of poor sanitation.
• Discuss the impact of poor sanitation on health.
• Suggest practical prevention measures.
• Analyze real-life sanitation scenarios.

Lesson summary

This lesson focuses on environmental health, a critical aspect of our daily lives. We will explore the meaning of sanitation and why our communities in Ghana sometimes struggle with keeping our surroundings clean. We will discuss the specific reasons for poor sanitation—from how we dispose of our daily waste to the lack of proper facilities—and, most importantly, what we can do about it. Understanding this topic is vital because a clean environment directly leads to better health, prevents diseases like cholera and malaria, and makes our towns and villages better places to live. Our personal actions have a big impact on the health of our entire community.

Lesson notes

A. What is Sanitation?

Sanitation refers to the systems and practices put in place to protect public health by providing a clean environment. It is more than just sweeping. It involves: Safe disposal of human waste: This means having and using proper toilets (like KVIPs or water closets) to prevent faeces and urine from contaminating our water and soil. Management of solid waste: This is how we handle our everyday rubbish ('borla'), from household bins to final disposal sites. It includes collection, transportation, and processing. Wastewater management: This includes managing water from our bathrooms and kitchens (greywater) and ensuring proper drainage systems (gutters) to prevent stagnant water. Personal and food hygiene: This involves practices like washing hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before eating.

Poor Sanitation is the opposite. It is a situation where these systems are broken, absent, or not used correctly, leading to a dirty, unsafe, and unhealthy environment. B. Major Causes of Poor Sanitation in Ghana

These are the root problems that we see every day in our communities. Improper Waste Disposal: Explanation: This is the most common cause. It involves people throwing rubbish anywhere they please—into gutters, on the streets, in bushes, or at unauthorised dumping sites. Many plastic bags, food wrappers, and bottles end up choking our drainage systems. Ghanaian Example: During the rainy season in cities like Accra or Takoradi, gutters overflow and cause flooding. This is often because the gutters are completely blocked with plastic waste and sand that people have dumped there over time. Open Defecation: Explanation: This is the practice of passing faeces in open spaces like bushes, fields, beaches, or near rivers instead of using a toilet. This is extremely dangerous because human waste contains harmful germs. Ghanaian Example: In many coastal communities, 'beaches serve as toilets'. Rain then washes the faeces into the sea, contaminating the water that fishermen use. In rural areas, it can contaminate streams that are the main source of drinking water, leading to outbreaks of diseases like cholera and typhoid. Inadequate and Poorly Maintained Drainage Systems: Explanation: Many communities have open, uncovered, or poorly constructed gutters. When these drains get blocked with rubbish and sand, wastewater becomes stagnant. Ghanaian Example: Stagnant water in choked gutters is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. This is a major reason why malaria is so common in Ghana. The stagnant water also produces a very bad smell and can flood homes when it rains. Lack of Education and Poor Attitude: Explanation: Some people are simply not aware of the direct link between their actions and public health. They may not understand that throwing one 'pure water' sachet on the ground, when done by thousands of people, creates a massive problem. There is also an attitude of "it's not my job" or "the government/Zoomlion will clean it." Ghanaian Example: A passenger in a 'trotro' finishes a drink and throws the plastic bottle out the window without a second thought, believing it is someone else's responsibility to clean it up. Rapid Urbanisation and Unplanned Settlements: Explanation: People are moving from villages to cities like Kumasi, Accra, and Tamale in search of jobs. This leads to overcrowding, and the cities struggle to provide enough housing, toilets, and waste collection services for everyone. This results in the growth of slum areas with very poor sanitation. Ghanaian Example: Areas like Old Fadama (Agbogbloshie) in Accra grew very quickly without proper planning. This has led to challenges in providing basic sanitation services like toilets and regular waste collection to all residents. Weak Enforcement of Bye-Laws: Explanation: Every District and Municipal Assembly in Ghana has laws (bye-laws) against littering, dumping waste illegally, and other sanitation offences. However, the officials responsible ('Saman Saman' or Environmental Health Officers) often lack the resources or support to enforce these laws strictly. Ghanaian Example: Someone builds a house over a public waterway, blocking drainage, but faces no penalty from the local assembly. Or, people who are caught littering are not fined, so there is no deterrent. C. Prevention of Poor Sanitation

Evaluation guide

• B9.1.3.2
• Demonstrate understanding
• of clean energy, and
• Improved Cookstoves (ICS)