NEWS
Abia Govt Moves to End Open Defecation
Cross section of participants at the workshop
Monday stated this in Umuahia at a two-day Engagement meeting, Sensitization and Capacity Building of Major Stakeholders Towards Flag-off of Open Defecation Abia Programme.
He noted that Governor Alex Otti has given a mandate that the State should be free from open defecation which is the reason for the kickoff campaign.
Monday disclosed that the Governor has approved the installation of 10 Ultra Modern Wash Facilities across the State starting with Umuahia, adding that the next phase is to extend to to every local government.
He said Abia State, currently has 2% of her population practicing open defecation, according to UNICEF survey, has a target to bring it to zero in 2030, and stressed the need for every Stakeholder to get involved to achieve the ambitious task.
He highlighted the importance of achieving open defecation free Abia, noting that it is to improve public health, environmental protection, economic growth and less disease among the people.
“Open defecation is not just a sanitation issue, it is an issue of public health, it is a matter of dignity, it has also economic effect, so it is a very big issue.
“So when people relief themselves in the open, road sides, bushes, water sources, it leads to deadly disease. It is a critical matter that we need to find a solution to and we can all achieve it together and that is why we are here to reach our people, to make people understand that this is something that is not good for every one.
“Information from the UNICEF says that only 2 percent of Abians are practicing open defecation, so you see that we can easily go to that zero percent and the reason is that most homes in our state have toilets .
“It is more of institutional , health, school, markets, local offices, so once we can go local government by local government, we can clear is soon”, he stated.
He used the medium to call on community leaders, village heads, school head masters and everyone to have a behavioral change which will bring the desired result in that regard.
In her presentation, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation Abuja, Mrs. Chizuma Opara said they are excited to collaborate with the Abia State Government and for making the dream a reality.
Mrs Opara who is the National Coordinator of Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign described it as a behavioral change campaign, pointing out that the act of ending open defecation is about taking a collective decision and making efforts to ensure that we move in that trend.
She further informed that about 142 Local Government Areas out of 774 in the country are open defecation free, adding that the aim is to create awareness and to sensitize the public on the need to end open defecation across the country.
In their goodwill messages, the Mayor, of Ikwuano LGA, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani represented by the secretary of the Local Government, Hon. Ahamefula Azuonwu, the representative of the Director General of BCA, Chibuzo Maduka-Iro appreciated the organisers for coming to Abia State to carry out the sensitization and pledged their total support in carrying the use the toilet campaign to the grassroot.
The Eagle News gathered that the workshop was organized in conjunction with ‘Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet’ Campaign of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Abuja.