About three communities, the Songo, Senebaa and Takore are benefiting from the initiative with over 200 latrines under construction.

The two parties are supporting the initiative in various capacities with the Assembly providing the material and labour for the construction of the latrines, while the Youth Authority is assisting with voluntary labour.

Mr Ziblim Abubakari Shaibu, the Director of the Upper East Regional National Youth Authority, said this during a working visit to some of the youth camps where the youth were being camped for two weeks to construct the pits at Songo near Garu, the district capital. 

Mr Shaibu noted that the move was part of efforts made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Youth Authority to inculcate the spirit of togetherness that would harness patriotism for national development.

He said the youth was the driving force for national development and the camp had brought the youth together on the theme, “Promoting patriotism through voluntarism in community development”.

 “When the mission is accomplished, the youth having participated would understand the need to keep their environment clean and desist from practicing open defecation, which would promote sanitation in the area”.

Mr Shiabu commended the youth for their voluntary spirit and assured the NYA of the Assembly’s commitment to support them to develop the area.

Mr Emmanuel Avoka Asore, the District Chief Executive, addressing the participants at the camp, said the Assembly was committed to declaring the District open defecation free by 2019, and the move to construct household latrines would trigger efforts to achieve that agenda.

He urged the youth in the District to champion the campaign against open defecation because it would go a long way to provide quality livelihood opportunities.