By Bisola Adeyemo
A gynecologist, Dr. Chris Badejola has revealed that Open defecation is an environmental issue that poses a threat to general health and well-being, especially in women and girls.
Basejo said, “It is easy for women defecating openly to suffer multiple health diseases like diarrheal, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, vector-borne diseases, polio, trachoma, soil-transmitted infections, especially violence leading to undernutrition during their reproductive age”
He also said open defecation poses a health risk to pregnant women.
“About 70% residence in rural area Practices open defecation that is why most of them develop different health diseases particularly in pregnant women,“ he opined.
“Many believes that faeces from children and babies are harmless, A child’s faeces contain just as many germs as an adult’s faeces and must be disposed of safely, by throwing the faeces into the latrine or be buried immediately” he added
Also, a medical officer in Kubwa general hospital Dr.Issac Ibeuro said, open defecation exposes and reduces women’s dignity, causes a high risk of sexual exploitation, and a threat to their privacy, which could lead to rape”
Dr. Chris said Open defecation can lead to rape possibly expose their body to STI’s, unwanted pregnancy resulting in school drops out while adding that female genitals are exposed to the open space in the course of defecating which easily expose them to direct infections such as intestinal worm infections as well as promotes poor health in women with long-term negative effects on their psychosocial well being
The two experts, therefore, pleaded with government, communities, and individuals to ensure the act of defecating openly reduces mostly in rural areas, and ensure improvement in sanitation interventions which play a crucial role in disease prevention
Speaking with NatureNews during an interview on Saturday, Head of information and outreach unit, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Janet Audu Peni stressed that aside from reducing a child’s dignity and respect, it pollutes the air as the smell of faeces is unpleasant.