…48 million still practice open defecation

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has decried the sanitation situation in the country saying over 95 million people lack access to basic sanitation services with 48 million practicing open defecation out of which 18 million are children.

The Officer In Charge, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye made this known during a Zonal Meeting Dialogue on 2024 World Toilet Day, by UNICEF with the theme “Toilets: A Place for Peace.”

He pointed out that this year’s theme “highlights how broken or inadequate sanitation systems affect people’s lives and shows how sustainable sanitation is essential to a healthy and stable society.

“The day is intended to raise awareness on importance of toilet facilities, especially among the myriads of people globally living without access to safe toilets. World Toilet Day is contributing to the ‘Countdown to 2030′ accelerating action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal, SDG, 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

“As we reflect on this theme, it is crucial to acknowledge that globally, 3.5 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation services. This alarming number underscores the urgency of our collective efforts. In Nigeria, the situation is even more critical. While some progress has been made recently, less than three out of every five members of the population have access to basic sanitation services.

“This translates to about 95 million people lacking access to basic sanitation services, and 48 million people practicing open defecation, out of which 18 million are children.

“Our public facilities demonstrate evidently the lack of access to sanitation services as 70 percent of schools, 88 percent of health facilities, and 80 percent of markets and motor parks do not have basic sanitation services”

“The impact of this situation is felt in the society. The risk of waterborne diseases rises as a result of water sources being contaminated, the resilience of our communities weakens due to avoidable expenses on treatment of these diseases, ability of students to learn maximally is reduced due to health-related school absenteeism.

“Girls face unique challenges, especially during menstruation when they are more vulnerable to infection and, that can lead to increased absenteeism, limiting their educational opportunities.

“Addressing these challenges is a priority for UNICEF, as we work tirelessly to support safe, inclusive, and sustainable sanitation solutions.”

While urging all stakeholders to renew their commitment to sanitation, the global organisation emphasized that “this campaign is a call to action, a moment to pledge to increase investments, implement strategies, and champion innovations that bring us closer to achieving universal access to sanitation by 2030.

“UNICEF stands ready to support this journey. We also recognize the vital role that our youth and community leaders play. Initiatives led by school WASH clubs and community advocates are essential for driving change. We ask the media to keep promoting actions that promote good hygiene and inspire the population to uphold the principles of basic sanitation.”

The WASH Specialist UNICEF Field Office Enugu, Mrs. Rebecca Gabriel, urged governments to prioritise sanitation and provide more funding for the sector to end open defecation in the country.

She also called for behavioural change to issues of sanitation since investment alone would not make the desired impact saying “we all have a collective responsibility to end open defecation and we must make accelerated effort to meet the 2030 SDGs.”

Earlier, the Communication Officer, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe who outlined the objective of the meeting noted the important role the media should play to sensitize Nigerians to improve sanitation and also end the practice of open defecation in the country.