UNICEF trains 65 health facilitators on sanitation, hygiene in Anambra

About 65 health officials in Anambra state are currently undergoing a 6-day training workshop on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in 152 WASH communities of the two new programme local governments of Idemili South and Nnewi North of the state. The facilitators, drafted from the two local governments of Aguata and Anambra east, were to […]

About 65 health officials in Anambra state are currently undergoing a 6-day training workshop on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in 152 WASH communities of the two new programme local governments of Idemili South and Nnewi North of the state.

The facilitators, drafted from the two local governments of Aguata and Anambra east, were to undergo training on importance of sanitation and hygiene, factors influencing behavioural change and other WASH related activities.

The Program Manager, Rural Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Victor Ezekwo, disclosed this at the opening of the workshop in Awka, organized by the agency in collaboration with the European Union and the United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF).

He said the exercise was targeted at empowering the facilitators to sensitize residents of the specified communities on the need to desist from defecating in the open and to have their own toilets as well as have access to excreta disposure.

Ezekwo expressed satisfaction that residents of the communities where similar exercised have been carried out now complete to maintain Open Defecation Free (ODF) environment.

"When you defecate carelessly in the environment, the same flies that perch on the faeces would later perch on food. Besides, rain falls on them and carries them to the stream and is fetched for drinking which may lead to cholera," he said.

According to him, the rate of cholera and water-bone disease is reduced to the bearest minimum with the intervention of CLTS, revealing that 124 of the 154 rural communities in the locality have been certified ODF.

On her part, the Sanitation Officer, RUWASSA, Nwankwu Oluchi urged the participants to take advantage of the training to equip themselves for the enormous task ahead of them.