OPEN DEFECATION:  RUWASSA TAKES CAMPAIGN TO NYANYA

By: Adama Aminu and Suzanne George  

Determined in its efforts to increase awareness of the dangers of open defecation and ensure improved sanitation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Rural Water and Sanitation Directorate (RUWASSA) recently embarked on a sensitisation campaign in Nyanya, a community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

 In her speech, during the event, the Acting Director, FCT RUWASSA, Abigail P. Ekpenisi said that the sensitisation was aimed at creating awareness towards the dangers of open defecation and proper toilet habits in households and public places such as markets and motor parks.

The Director said that the essence of good hygiene practice is to be safe from diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, and diarrhoea.

 She said that recently, 98 Local government areas in other states of the Federation have been declared open defecation free (ODF) but unfortunately, FCT is not listed.

She added that despite huge efforts by the Administration to end the scourge, only 117 communities in Kwali Area Council have been certified open defecation free by the task force group on sanitation, but not a single area council in the Territory is declared free from the menace.

Ekpenisi stated that there is a need for relevant stakeholders to join hands in fighting the menace.

 In his remarks, the HOD Environmental Department, Abuja Municipal Area Council, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Department, Mohammed Musa, appreciated the Directorate for the programme, and said that most households in Nyanya lack adequate toilet facilities.

He therefore called on the residents to join the Environmental Department to address open defecation and other environmental challenges in the area.

While speaking, the Sa’Nyanyayi, Danladi Iya commended the Management of RUWASSA for the timely awareness campaign on water sanitation and hygiene. According to him, the campaign will help improve the lives of FCT communities.

He called on women and the youth to take ownership of the session in addressing water, sanitation and hygiene related issues in Nyanya.

The high point of the event included market sensitisation campaign and supervision of public toilets in the market and motor parks in the area.

 It would be recalled that following the declaration of state of emergency in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector (WASH) in 2018, Nigeria flagged off the ‘Clean Nigeria Campaign’, and the ‘Use the Toilet Campaign’ in 2019.

These campaigns were backed by the Presidential Executive order 009 towards making Nigeria open defecation free by 2030.