The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has expressed worry over the deteriorating situation of sanitation in the country.
Speaking during a UNICEF Zonal Meeting Dialogue on 2024 World Toilet Day, with the theme “Toilets: A Place for Peace”, the Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye lamented that over 95 million people lack access to basic sanitation services in the country with 48 million of them still practicing open defecation out of which 18 million are children.
Dr. Akinleye also pointed out that 70% of schools, 88 % of health facilities, and 80 %of markets and motor parks in the country do not have basic sanitation services, noting that the impact of the situation is felt in the society in the increasing cases and risks of waterborne diseases.
He explained that this is because poor sanitation contaminates water sources and the resilience of communities weakens due to avoidable expenses on treatment of these diseases, while ability of students to learn maximally is reduced due to health-related school absenteeism.
He noted that this year’s theme highlights how broken or inadequate sanitation systems adversely affect the people and how sustainable sanitation is essential to a healthy and stable society.
Dr. Akinleye explained that World Toilet Day is contributing towards accelerating action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal, SDG6 which is water and sanitation for all by 2030.
The UNICEF chief assured that addressing the challenges remain a priority for the fund, as it works tirelessly to support safe, inclusive, and sustainable sanitation solutions, urging all stakeholders to renew their commitment to sanitation.
Also speaking, 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.
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.
