By Ahmad Umar
Gombe (Nigeria)–Network of Civil Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) in Gombe State Northeast of the country has advised government at levels and philanthropic organizations to take urgent steps towards eradicating open defecation by providing enabling environment.
State Coordinator of the NGO, Sani Adamu Jauro made the appeal on Friday during the sensitisation programme on the importance of hand washing at Wuro-Biriji Primary School in Akko Local Government Area to mark the 2017 United Nations World Toilet Day .
Jauro also stressed the need for the government to implement WASH policies, providing tangible resources for sanitation in the yearly budget lines, provision of toilets in public places such as motor parks, markets, schools, health centres, highways among others.
He said about 1 billion people still practicing open defecation globally.
“Open defecation is a public health crisis which takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Nigeria each year, and stunts the children who survive.
“Widespread open defecation is a problem that is not only concentrated in the rural areas but rampant in most towns and cities across the country, eradicating open defecation is indeed an urgent priority and should be treated so by government and all levels, he noted..
The group also urged the Federal, state and local government to take urgent steps to provide safe and functional toilets in hospitals, health centres and academic institutions across the State,
“Open defecation is rampant in most secondary and primary institutions across the country while most hospitals/health centres do not have safe and functional toilets.
Speaking on behalf of the Pupils Abdulgafar Tijjani primary five, appealed to the state government to provide them with potable drinking water, toilet, desk/chairs and teaching aids.
He said the school has no drinking water, adequate toilet while their classes lack desks/chairs and teaching aids for their teachers to enabling them have good education.
