By Donald Ojebo
Photo: Minister of Water Resources & Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Tsev during the unveiling of the Information, Education & Communication (IEC) materials for Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) during the 2-day national retreat on clean nigeria; use the toilet campaign & unveiling of the National WASH IEC materials in Abuja.
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As part of efforts to promote awareness, behavior change, and community engagement on proper hygiene practices, safe water usage, and sanitation, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation hasunveiled its Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials for sensitization and advocacy activities.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev made the unveiling yesterday in Abuja during the 2-day national retreat on clean Nigeria: use the toilet campaign organized by the Clean Nigeria Campaign in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
He appealed to States to produce yearly plans that will help them achieve open defecation free (ODF) communities and also ensure that mechanisms are put in place to enforce and implement such plans.
In order to track and monitor progress, the Minister disclosed that incentives have been introduced to motivate players with the view to creating a healthy competition among States.
“The task of ending open defecation in Nigeria is enormous but with partnership and strong desire we can achieve it” the Minister asserted.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah said the retreat gathered key stakeholders in the water sector to accelerate and track progress in the campaign against open defecation.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Reform Coordination, Moses Magudu called on participants to ensure that at the end of the retreat recommendations on the way forward for a healthier country are produced.
The National Coordinator, Clean Nigeria Campaign, Mrs. Chizorma Okpara in her presentation on ‘clean Nigeria: use the toilet’ campaign; progress, challenges and way forward, gave an overview and progress of the campaign stating its mission and vision statement.
She revealed that of the 774 Council Areas in the country, only 142 have been certified open defecation free and added that the retreat will afford participants the opportunity to find out what worked, has not worked and should be done to move the campaign to the next level through strategies that will yield better results.
Goodwill addresses were given by representatives of the office of the Vice President of Nigeria, State Commissioners, line Ministries, UNICEF, NEWSAN, YouthWASH Initiative, Africa pledging support to synergize with stakeholders to achieve open defecation free Nigeria
The initial target of 2025 has been moved to 2030 giving States outside Jigawa State that has achieved 100% open defecation free status for all it’s Council Areas, a new lifeline to address the challenge.
In Delta State, Ndokwa West LGA and Oshimili North LGA have been certified open defecation free with water, sanitation and hygiene clubs established in schools to promote proper hygiene services among children.
Open defecation is defecating outside fields, bushes, forests, rivers/streams, any other place that is not a toilet or latrine.
It infects water and food, spreads diseases such as diarrhorea, cholera, typhoid, and intestinal worms and also makes the environment smell bad.
