The Federal Government has taken up the campaign on the use of clean toilets to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs Camp in Bakassi, Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, who led the team, distributed various sanitary items and disinfectants worth millions of naira to the IDPs.
The Minster represented by Mr Taiwo Bashorun, Director of Social Development in the ministry, Farouk urged the IDPS and other Nigerians, to imbibe the culture of using clean toilets to avoid being infected with toilet related diseases.
Speaking on the topic, “Clean Nigeria-Use The Toilet Campaign” the minister stated that with clean toilets, most diseases that are transmitted through the toilet can be curtailed.
“As you may be aware, the practice of open defecation has become common in many communities due to lack of sanitary facilities.
“Nigeria still tops the global league of countries in which open defecation is prevalent with an estimated 47m of our people indulging in the practice.
“It has been abundantly established that open defecation has a negative impact on the health, educational outcomes and socio-economic life of the populace, especially women and children.
“Women, girls and younger children with no access to improved toilet facilities at home or in school are especially vulnerable.
“Beyond direct health risks, shame and potential violence bare constant reality for them when seeking a place to defecate.”
Farouk stressed that the economic impact of unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene depletes the Nigeria economy by almost equivalent to 1.3 percent of the gross Domestic Product GDP.
Similarly, she noted that about 124,000 children under the age of five are lost annually as a result of diarrhoea.
Farouk stressed that the essence of the campaign for use of clean toilets is geared towards advancing the populace on the need for a new culture that can put an end to open defecation before the end of 2025.
Some of the items distributed include:sanitary pads, Dettol amongst others