The Oyo State Ministry Of Information, Culture, and Tourism, the State Rural Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), is partnering with journalists in order to help end open defecation in the state.
Giving out the specific objectives of the meeting, at the one day media dialogue on the launch of Open Defecation Free roadmap in Oyo State, Dr Jene Beavan said that UNICEF is concern with people still defecating in open without worrying about the devastating consequences for public health.
She further said,”Faecal contamination of the environment and poor hygiene practices remain a leading cause of child mortality, and can potentially have negative effects on cognitive development. It is certain that 54 percent of people in Oyo State still practice open defecation, as they can be seen on the streets.”
She added that Oyo state is ranked among the states still practising open defecation
However, she identified that the purpose of the workshop was to engage the media in the campaign against open defecation with the aim of putting an end to the act
Hence, she added that UNICEF would continue to partner with the Oyo Government, media in tackling open defecation in the state through sanitation and hygiene.
Also, giving the statistics of open defecation in the State, Mr Monday Johnson, UNICEF Communication Specialist, said 79 percent of people in Oyo have access to water, while 14 percent have access to basic sanitation in the state. He also identified that 57 percent of public water facilities are functional while 55 percent of water in Oyo State is contaminated. He stressed that there is need to tackle the challenge of unavailability of water and poor sanitation which encourages Open defecation.
Furthermore, responding to the challenges and impact of RUWASSA in management of rural water sanitation in the State, the Chairman of RUWASSA, Engr. Najeem Omirinde, said they are poise to stamp out unhygienic behaviors that has been contributing different diseases, mortality among the rural populace, describing the media dialogue is a practical demonstration of community triggering efforts for early end to open defecation.
He further said,
“We are aware that we have a lot of work to do. The state is aware of the law that prohibit open defecation in public remains to be accented by the Governor. Hence, the administration will be looking forward to fine any defaulter of this law once the Governor approves it. The Government is also doing it best in building toilet at public places and also emphazing the need for individual toilets in homes”.
“We are also looking into engagement with private sector, revitalization of public properties. We are also ensuring and piloting awareness Initiative in Local Governments, as we are currently in Ona-Ara local government”
“Again, the Oyo Government have made sanitation loan of 20 million, with collaboration with UNICEF, contributing 30 million, that the Oyo people might have access to these loans to build themselves toilet.”
“Hence, with the open defecation free road map, we are working with the target of UNICEF to end open defecation by 2027, which is why we are involving the media to help create the awareness to the populace.”
While also speaking on behalf of the commissioner of information, culture and Tourism, Mr Oyesola Oyedele, the permanent secretary of the ministry, identified that the State Government is aware of this challenge, as the percentage of open Defecation and poor sanitation is still high in the state. Hence it has made the Government to set her own target to end this menace of open defecation around the 33 Local Government areas.
He said,
“We will assure the people that once again, Oyo State will set the pace among other States in stamping out the menace of open defecation. That is why we are launching a open defecation free road map to help guide us. We shall continue to collaborate with UNICEF, the Oyo State Rural Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) in fighting this battle, we shall continue to make them proud by doing our best in giving the people of the State healthy living environment,” he promised.
