THE Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Enugu State, says that it has built 62 latrines in four local government areas of the state to combat open defecation.

Mr Christopher Ogbu, the Coordinator of the unit made the disclosure in Enugu on Wednesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

NAN reports that the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation, under the state Ministry of Water Resources is sponsored by the Bill Gates Foundation in collaboration with Water Aid.

Ogbu named the four LGAs as Udenu, Nkanu East, Igboetiti and Igboeze North.

“44 communities were certified ODF status and certificates awarded them in March last year by the state government,” he said.

The coordinator said that 86 schools in the four council areas were also sensitized on dangers of open defecation.

“Many schools were triggered, 48 were from Nkanu East, eight in Igboeze North, 25 in Udenu and 13 in Igboetiti.

“Within this period, we built 62 institutional latrines across the targeted five LGAs, basic sanitary materials were also supplied, teachers trained and environmental health clubs formed in those schools,’’ he said.

Ogbu said that Enugu State is blessed to have benefited from the project noting that they monitored the certified communities to ensure they sustained their status.

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank those who made us proud by achieving the status and encourage those who have not, to stop defecating in open places avoid the danger of open defecation. (NAN)

– Apr. 4, 2018 @ 15:35 GMT

AE