OPEN DEFECATION MENACE: THE REAL ISSUES

28 Sep OPEN DEFECATION MENACE: THE REAL ISSUES

Basically, the real issues are the concerning figures from international developmental partners like UNICEF and UN in relation to open defecation in Nigeria. From UNICEF, it is established that no fewer than 46 million Nigerians are practicing open defecation. This has ranked the country very high on the list of countries still allowing open defecation. The practice has had a negative effect on the populace, especially children, in the areas of health and education and had contributed to the country’s failure to meet the Millennium Development Goals target.

THE WAY FORWARD

Poor sanitation situation in Nigeria had prompted the National Council on Water Resources in 2014 to prioritize the development of a road map towards eliminating open defecation in the country, in line with the United Nations global campaign for ending open defecation. The National Road Map document by UNICEF, titled, ‘Making Nigeria Open-Defecation-Free by 2025,’ noted that, “Presently (2015) around 46 million people in Nigeria defecate in the open. Another 56 million people are estimated to be added during the next 10 years. This means a total of 102 million people or 20 million households should have access to a toilet and use it. To curb the practice, UNICEF stated: “Sanitation facilities have to be provided to numerous institutions such as schools, health centers, market centers, motor parks, highway eateries, jetties and religious places so as not to have any open defecation around these places.”

 So, you won’t be surprised if there is an increase in infectious diseases like cholera outbreak, diarrhea, and vomiting during the rainy season especially in rural communities where access to sanitation facilities are non-existent. However, the Nigeria could win the campaign against open defecation if the right policies are put in place. In as much as we are saying people should not defecate in the public, most cities in the country still do not have public toilets where people can use, while the available ones are unkempt and people would rather defecate in the open. Both public and private infrastructures like markets, parks, etc without adequate provision for toilets should not be approved.