Tsokomey (GA/R), April 8, GNA - Mr Bright Demordzi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Botianor/Ngleshie Amanfrom, has urged fishing communities to take sanitation issues seriously to curb the outbreak of diseases.
He said diseases are in the air, hence the need to keep their surroundings clean to lead healthy lifestyles.
The MP gave the advice when he joined the people of Tsokomey, a fishing community in the Bortianor Electoral area, in a clean-up exercise at the Tsokomey Beach.
The five-hour exercise drew both the youth and the old men and women from the town to clear rubbish from the beach.
It was organized by Integrated Development in Focus (DIF) and Hope for Future Generation, both NGOs, with support from United Kingdom Aids, to sensitize communities on communal labour, hygiene and the need to keep their environment clean at all times.
Mr Demordzi took the opportunity to advise the fishermen on the dangers of illegal, uncontrolled and unregulated fishing practices.
He said illegal fishing was depleting the fisheries stock and if care was not taken, fishermen would end up harvesting all fishes, including the fingerlings from the water bodies, and in the end, render themselves jobless.
He said aside that, illegal fishing such as use of D.D.T and other crude methods of fishing, was hazardous to human lives, and appealed to them to desist from the act.
The MP also urged government to expedite action on the proposed Fisheries Insurance for fishermen, and also come out with comprehensive alternative livelihood programmes for the people to curtail illegal fishing.
He said if the people were assured of alternative jobs during the lean season, they would not indulge in illegal and unregulated fishing.
Mr Abraham Godbless Ashie, Project Coordinator of DIF, thanked Mr Demordzi for his time and personal contributions towards the success of the exercise.
He said that would not be the end of the clean-up exercise, and urged the community members to own it and make sure that they cleaned the environment regularly to avoid epidemics.
'The community is yours and there should be an outbreak today, you are the first targets and that is why it is important that we clean our environment regularly. ...Your health is your worth, 'he said.
GNA
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