48 Million Nigerians Still Practice Open Defecation: UNICEF Unveils Urgent Initiative

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a partnership with journalists, government officials, and other key stakeholders, aimed at eradicating open defecation and tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) across the country.

This collaboration was unveiled at a two-day Media Dialogue held in Lagos State.

Jane Bevan, UNICEF’s Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), underscored the critical importance of this partnership, stressing that a collective effort is vital to extend the campaign to every corner of Nigeria.

“We can’t do this alone; our goal is for Nigeria to become open defecation-free. This requires the involvement of the government, private sector, banks, and citizens from all walks of life,” Bevan stated.

Highlighting the severe risks associated with open defecation, Bevan pointed out that NTDs, often caused by bacterial infections, pose a significant health threat. She emphasised that improved sanitation practices could significantly reduce the incidence of these diseases.

“Proper defecation practices are crucial for preventing NTDs,” she added.

The media’s role in this campaign is paramount, according to Bevan. She drew parallels with India, where widespread media coverage played a key role in the success of similar initiatives.

“To achieve comparable results in Nigeria, we need to embed the message that defecation should only occur in toilets into the public consciousness,” Bevan urged.

Chizome Opara, Coordinator of Clean Nigeria, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the urgent need for action.

“Currently, 48 million Nigerians still practice open defecation,” Opara said. “Immediate action from all stakeholders is required to reverse this trend. By effectively managing this campaign, we can reduce NTD transmission and promote better sanitation and hygiene practices.”

In a related development, UNICEF also spotlighted a pressing educational issue in Ogun State. During an advocacy visit to the Ogun State House of Assembly, Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF’s Chief Field Office for Southwest Nigeria, revealed that 43.3% of children in Ogun State are currently out of school. This revelation came during a meeting facilitated by the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, led by Mr. Yusuf Amosun.

Lafoucriere expressed concern over the high number of out-of-school children and emphasized the need for continued efforts to address this challenge.

“Ogun State is performing relatively well on a national level, but there is still a significant number of out-of-school children in the Southwest. Our goal is to enhance our collaboration with the state government and reinforce our commitment to supporting educational initiatives in the state,” Lafoucriere stated.

The visit culminated in a formal commitment from the Ogun State House of Assembly members to work towards reducing the number of out-of-school children, signaling a unified effort to tackle both educational and public health challenges in the region.