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Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), has called on the churches, community-based organization and the media to help intensify the self-help spirit in the sanitation cleanup exercises.

Speaking at the end of cleanup exercises organized at Abossey Okai Spare Parts, Abeka Lapaz and Newtown in Accra to observe the National Sanitation Day, he said if the people were made to know the health benefits of environmental cleanliness our sanitation outlook would improve.

Dr Vanderpuije said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) alone could not address the enormous environmental problems in the present circumstances of the population explosion in Accra.

The churches, security services and community-based organizations must focus on the Sanitation Day to ensure that more people get involved in the process, he said.

He said the environment could only be healthy if each one of the citizenry becomes a little more sensitive and conscious about the cleanliness of his or her vicinity.

The MCE cautioned that though there was a reduction in the number of people infected by cholera last year, “we cannot be complacent about it as it can come back and spread faster”.

He said it had become more than necessary to appeal to the conscience and commitment of the people to ensure that they participate in the National Sanitation Day in every first week of the month in order to reduce the outbreak of diseases.