World Toilet Day: Osun Commissions Blocks Of Toilets
Two blocks of toilets for male and female students of Saint Peters Middle school were commissioned Monday in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2018 World Toilet Day.
At the event, Osun Government reinstated its commitment to continue to partner United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and European Union EU to end open defecation in the state.
Speaking at Saint Peters Middle school, Oyan venue of the programme, the General Manager of Osun Rural, Water and Environmental Sanitation (RUWESA), Alhaji Posi Adiatu, said before the commencement of EU/ UNICEF Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme ll of 2013, more than 85 of the 130 elementary and middle schools in the three focus LGAs lacked basic Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
He said, “Due to this unfortunate situation, pupils of the schools in Ayedaade, Odo-Otin and Ifedayo local governments were left with no alternative option than to practice open defecation when nature calls.
“As a result of this, there was prevalence of outbreak of diseases.
“Today, with the massive construction of gender segrated toilets, boreholes and handwashing facilities in schools through the intervention of EU/UNICEF;
“More than 65 of these schools now enjoy provision of good toilets, clean water supply and hand washing facilities”.
Adiatu, who noted that 58 per cent of all diarrhea cases were due to poor hygiene, sanitation and unsafe water, said the state government would continue to partner with international agencies to end open defecation in the country.
In her remarks, UNICEF consultant for Odo-Otin Local Government, Mrs Rebecca Akinduro, said more than 166 rural communities had been declared open defecation free.
Akinduro said that the Local Government in collaboration with UNICEF had been working tirelessly to ensure that each household have access to toilets and latrines.
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