Agency ends open defecation in 28 communities

The Project Manager of the agency, Mr Bashir Lere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the communities were spread across three local government areas of Kubau, Lere and Chukun.Lere said that the agency would continue to sensitise more communities on the dangers open defecation posed to their health and wellbeing.“We intend […]

The Project Manager of the agency, Mr Bashir Lere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the communities were spread across three local government areas of Kubau, Lere and Chukun.
Lere said that the agency would continue to sensitise more communities on the dangers open defecation posed to their health and wellbeing.
“We intend to sensitise them to desist from such habit of open defecation as part of good sanitation habits in the state.
“It has been observed that some of our people in the communities have the habit of open defecation and have adopted this as a culture.
“Men defecate outside and the women use the toilet, so we are coming in now to discourage the habit of open defecation within the localities,’’ he said.
According to him, part of the agency’s mandate is to integrate sanitation in terms of safe delivery of faecal waste, and providing adequate and affordable latrines in communities, schools, and other public areas.
To achieve the mandate, Lere said, WATSAN had also embarked on the provision of clean water to rural communities.
The project manager said wells, hand pumps and solar powered bore holes were being provided to communities to prevent residents from consuming unwholesome water.
He appealed to the state government to enhance the budgetary allocation to the agency to enable it do more, noting that paucity of funds were constraining its activities.
The project manager also decried the lack of financial support from the local government councils.
He said as the third tier of government, closest to the people, the councils needed to contribute and support the agency in the discharge of its duties for the good of the society. (NAN)