.…Restates Importance Of Hygiene In Promoting Public Health
Adequate and safe sanitation as well as proper hand hygiene practices have been identified as the best ways to help prevent illnesses that impact families, livelihoods especially such that take the lives of many children.
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF made this the focal point during the celebration of the 2024 World Toilet Day restating the importance of hygiene in promoting Public Health.
UNICEF declared that there has been limited progress over the last two years in the fight against open defecation in Nigeria, with available statistics showing that Nigerians’ access to water, sanitation, hygiene services and the practice of open defecation has remained steady at 23 per cent, as many as 46 million Nigerians still defecate in the open.
UNICEF Desk Officer in Anambra state, Mrs Franca Madike, described the practice of open defecation as an affront on the dignity of man; with risks to children’s nutrition and communities’ health.
Featuring on a radio program in Awka, the Speaker of Anambra Children’s Parliament, Right Honourable Victory Ekwunife, maintained that the campaign against open defecation involves a variety of activities aimed at reinforcing sanitation practice and fostering pride in clean and functional toilets.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Parliament, Honourable Chidubem Ezekwe, maintained that each individual has the capacity to take action in addressing the sanitation crisis.
World Toilet Day is celebrated annually on 19th November to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve Sustainable Development Goals Six.
It also offers the opportunity to intensify awareness and highlight the importance of toilets for health, hygiene and safety.
The 2024 World Toilet Day had as its theme, “Toilets – a place for peace” and aimed at promoting a worldwide public campaign that encourages actions to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
