Environment
WATERAID has advised house owners in Nigeria to ensure they construct decent toilets while building houses. The agency said that this would prevent open defecation across the country.
The Acting Country Director of WaterAid, Mrs Evelyn Mere gave in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Mere said that house owners should make construction of decent toilets as their priority while building house in a particular area.
According to her, about 2.3 billion people do not have a decent toilet of their own; half of all schools in Nigeria are without access to basic toilet or clean water.
“I thereby advise that if anybody wants to rent a house in any area, please check and be sure that such house has decent toilet.
“Any house that does not have toilet, no matter the amount of money you are renting the house, don’t border paying for such house.
“Lack of toilet encourages people to defecate anywhere; any house that does not have toilet is dangerous for everyone.
“Most people across the country live without a toilet. They risk their health to various diseases such as diarrheal, cholera among others and these can quickly cause death,’’ she said.
Mere said that clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene services transform lives and improve livelihoods.
She said that sensitising people, landlords and landladies, institutions and various schools on the importance of decent toilets, sanitation and hygiene would improve the lives of people across the country.
She urged relevant stakeholders to improve on effective sensitisation on the importance of building decent toilets at homes and the need to maintain them.
“Ensuring available and sustainable management of water and sanitation will go a long way to achieve SDGs six.
“This task is for everyone, we should join hands to make sure we achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation.
“As well as paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations,’’ she said. (NAN)
– July 22, 2019 @ 15:25 GMT |
Tags: Open defecation: WaterAid urges house owners to construct toilets
