WaterAid reiterates commitment to consistent campaigns against open defecation
By Bisola Adeyemo
Mr. Kolawole Banwo, Head of advocacy Policy and Communication, WaterAid, a non-governmental organisation (NGO ), had said the organisation will continue to reinforce, advocate and campaign for Hygiene Behaviour Change as well as making provisions for modern toilets in Bauchi and other states.
Banwo who spoke with NatureNews in his office in Abuja on Tuesday said people’s behaviour does not change overnight, “we want to keep sensitizing them on the health risk of open defecation as well as sanitation,” he added.
Banwo said the Nigerian Government is committed to providing clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for everyone, everywhere by 2030.
“We work in several states like Bauchi, Enugu, and Oyo and partner with Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASA) to support the campaign to end open defecation by launching our version which is called the “clean Family Campaign” which involves local governments and communities practicing open defecation.
“We ensure that some local governments in three states have access to basic water and sanitation services.
“As we speak, Lagos state is not exempted from our latest innovations.
“People do not understand that open defecation contaminates their water, and exposes women to so many risks.
Banwo reiterated accessing some of the past innovations to see how people are responding to change.
“We are accessing some resources in the three states ( Oyo, Enugu, and Bauchi) to know the function of our facilities, this is because human behaviour does not change overnight.
“In Abuja, we discovered that open defecation does not only apply to rural areas but also affects urban areas.
“Currently in FCT, RUWASA is taken the bull by the horn and we are in partnership with them.
“We are building female-friendly toilets still going to be like every other public toilet but part of it will be made for their comfort, and to manage their menstrual hygiene.
“We need to build enough alternative toilets before punishing whosoever defecate openly.
“There is no punishment for someone trying to answer the call of nature when there is no availability of public toilets with good hygiene,” he said.
