United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) has asked alleged perpetrators who are fond of defecating in the open to desist from doing that, in order to prevent water from being contaminated.
UNICEF made this admonition at the media dialogue held in conjunction with Oyo State Government at Kakanfo In, Ibadan,on Wednesday July 27, 2022.
UNICEF lamented that Nigeria ranks second among countries practising open defecation globally, while the pacesetter state remains one of the States that involves in the act.
In her presentation at a one-day media dialogue on the launch of Open defecation free roadmap, the Chief of WASH, Unicef, Dr. Jane Baevan said open defecation was perniciously dangerous, as contact with human waste can cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, worm infestation, among others.
Adding that, UNICEF had championed the course of ensuring that Nigeria has access to safe drinking water supply, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene that would enhance better living and longevity of lives.
Baevan noted that the launch of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Nigeria and Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign are strategies to jump-start Oyo State’s journey towards ending open defecation in 2028.
Also speaking, the Chairman, RUWASSA, Engr. Najim Omirinde substantiated that the campaign came at an appropriate time while the media would better sensitise the public on the needs to prevent the increasing number of open defecation in the State, and equally stops the children and others from being contacted.
Emphasising that The campaign to end open defecation in Oyo State will reach the whole population in all 5 zones making Oyo State.
He called for a media, government, UNICEF collaboration on raising awareness on the disadvantages of Open defecation which he substantiated are prone to trigger poor hygiene, and inimical to good health among others.
The programme was well attended by creme de la creme in UNICEF, Oyo RUWASSA, Oyo State Government and media practitioners among others.
