… Says 47 Million Nigerians Engage In Menace, Raising Concerns Over NTDs
Lagos – With 47 million people in Nigeria practicing open defecation, while over 191 million (82 percent) citizens lack access to safe sanitation, UNICEF has warned of a rise in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and health emergencies in the country.
The agency further alerted that an estimated 200 million people living in the 648 LGAs where open defecation persists are at risk of contracting trachoma, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and 15 other NTDs.
While raising the alarms over a looming public health emergency in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed that only 126 out of 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are free from open defecation.
The agency stressed the urgent need to address open defecation as a major driver of these diseases. Unfortunately, open defecation by citizens is widespread in the country’s 648 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Jane Bevan, UNICEF’s Chief of WASH, expressed deep concerns on the impact of open defecation on Nigerians, their public health, and socio-economic development at the ongoing two-day media dialogue in Lagos.
Decrying the menace, Bevan said, the continued practice of open defecation, poor hygiene, and lack of access to clean water significantly exacerbate the vulnerability of millions of Nigeria’s populace to these diseases. Of the country’s 774 LGAs, only 126 of them are free from open defecation.
Despite the preventable nature of NTDs like schistosomiasis, trachoma, and intestinal worms, the country still has a burden of diseases due to open defecation menace.
According to the WASH National Routine Mapping (WASHNORM), 47 million people in Nigeria practice open defecation, while only 18 percent of the population has access to safely managed sanitation services. The current population of Nigeria is 233,652,349 as of Friday, September 13, 2024, based on Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest United Nations (UN) data. Of this figure, over 82 percent (191,594,926.18) lack access to safe sanitation.
Ebonyi State leads in open defecation rates, followed by Plateau State, while Zamfara State has the lowest rate.
Addressing journalists during a two-day media dialogue on “Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases” in Lagos, UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Jane Bevan said many of the NTDs are transmitted through poor sanitation, adding that “Unless we all practice safe sanitation and hygiene, there is a risk that we will all get more NTDs.
Bevan said that practicing hand washing is perhaps the most affordable immunisation that all Nigerians, including children, can receive that will assist in saving lives and avoid some of these diseases
“We have been able to achieve 126 open defecation-free LGAs in the country and we are working hard to ensure more LGAs achieve open defecation-free (ODF) status,” she added.
To combat this crisis, UNICEF and its partners are intensifying efforts to end open defecation by 2030. This involves constructing sanitation facilities, implementing hygiene education programs, and engaging communities to promote behavioral change.
Bevan maintained that ending open defecation is crucial for reversing the trend of NTDs, adding that practicing handwashing is a simple yet effective way to prevent these diseases.
Collaborating with Bevan’s views, Monday Johnson, a UNICEF WASH Specialist, underscored Nigeria’s high burden of NTDs and the role of open defecation in spreading them.
Johnson said Nigeria has the highest NTD burden in Africa and open defecation remained a significant contributor to the spread.
The UNICEF WASH Specialist listed some of the NTDs including; onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), among others are transmitted through contaminated soil and feces, perpetuating a cycle of poverty, malnutrition, and ill health.
“By addressing open defecation, we can significantly reduce the transmission of NTDs, improved sanitation and hygiene practices can break the cycle of infection, protecting vulnerable populations, especially children and women”, he added.
Elaborating on how open defecation fuels NTDs, Johnson said, “NTDs are a proxy for poverty which prevails among vulnerable and marginalised populations. NTDs and poor access to WASH contribute to a vicious cycle of poverty and disease. NTDs can lead to catastrophic health expenditure and reduced economy.
Concerning the role of UNICEF in ending open defecation in Nigeria, Johnson said UNICEF works very closely with governments and the Clean Nigeria Campaign to make a difference on the issue of poor sanitation and open defecation in the country.
Challenges Ahead Of The Clean Nigeria Campaign
Chizoma Opara, the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, addressed the significant hurdles facing the initiative aimed at achieving open defecation-free status by 2030.
She identified critical issues such as infrastructure deficits, funding gaps, and weak policy frameworks as major obstacles to progress.
Opara underscored the urgent need for increased investment in sanitation facilities and a stronger commitment from the government to address these challenges effectively.
Despite the difficulties, she expressed a hopeful outlook regarding the campaign’s objectives, which include eliminating open defecation, enhancing sanitation coverage, and implementing efficient fecal sludge management systems. Opara’s remarks reflect a determination to overcome these barriers and improve public health across the nation.
Media Urged To Combat Nigeria’s Open Defecation Practice
Blessing Ejiofor, the communication officer for UNICEF, urged media outlets to play a pivotal role in raising awareness about the dangers of open defecation.
Ejiofor highlighted the urgent need to eliminate this practice, stressing that improving sanitation is essential for achieving broader health objectives across Nigeria.
The call to action aims to mobilise public support and drive initiatives that address sanitation challenges in the country.
By Chioma Umeha
