Bukola Afeni
Nigerians face numerous challenges ranging from inadequate access to clean water sources, poor sanitation facilities and low levels of hygiene practices.
A significant portion of Nigeria’s population lacks access to safe and reliable drinking water sources.
However, rural communities are particularly affected by this challenge, and it has significant impacts on public health, education, and economic development.
With concerted efforts and strategic interventions, it is possible to improve the WASH sector in Nigeria and ensure a healthier and more prosperous future for the citizen in terms of hygiene.
According to UNICEF, poor access to improved water and sanitation in Nigeria remains a major contributing factor to high morbidity and mortality rates among children under five.
The use of contaminated drinking water and poor sanitary conditions result in increased vulnerability to water-borne diseases, including diarrhoea which leads to deaths of more than 70,000 children under five annually.
The Child rights body states that Seventy-three per cent of the diarrhoeal and enteric disease burden is associated with poor access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and is disproportionately borne by poorer children.
“Frequent episodes of WASH related ill-health in children, contribute to absenteeism in school, and malnutrition. Only 26.5 per cent of the population use improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities. Also, 22 per cent of the population defecate in the open.”
UNICEF Chief of WASH, Dr Jane Bevan said
it is important for stakeholders to take proactive steps in addresing challenges in the WASH sector.
She disclosed that state action plans should be put in place to tackle the issue of WASH in the country.
The UNICEF Wash expert added that tangible actions must be taken to address issue of water related diseases such as cholera.
” We all need to come together as a united front to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events and diseases linked to rising temperatures. We need to put in place enough preparedness plans to address issues of water related diseases in the country”, she noted.
The Program Manager of MaryRose Foundation, Mrs Emily Okafor said the government should collaborate with organizations working in the WASH sector to reduce open defecation.
She added that people in the private sector should seek for possible ways of partnering with government to establish toilets in major facilities at the state level.
“We need to start placing importance on building toilets in major parts of the country, so as to ensure our communities are devoid of open defecation”, she said.
In the same vein, she urged media practioners to engage in creating more awareness about the importance of WASH.
” The different stakeholders working in the WASH sector need to partner with media organizations to create awareness and sensitization about the importance of hygiene and sanitation.
“We need to leverage on social media to create more awareness by collaborating with different bloggers and social media influencers to create more content about WASH”, she said.
The Program Manager further noted that policies should be put in place to ensure that toilets are available everywhere in all public facilities in the country.
” Building mobile toilets in public places such as markets and parks will improve the level of hygiene in the country.
Toilet facilities should be built in churches, mosques, parks and public places to ensure that open defecation is eliminated totally. Even when the toilets are built, water should be provided so that people can practice good hygiene and constant handwashing”, she said.
This article was produced with the support of Speak Up Africa”s Media Fellowship Program
