Published By Olukayode Idowu
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with state governments in the troubled North East has constructed 4,752 toilets on internally displaced persons camps and communities.
The United Nations agency has also rehabilitated 2,976 toilets in the region to check against open defecation and improve the hygiene of the area.
Speaking at a a Media Orientation Programme to commemorate the 2021 World Toilet Day in Maiduguri, the Chief of Maiduguri Field Office of UNICEF, Dr Clement Adams said from 2018 to date UNICEF has supported state governments under its humanitarian intervention in the North East with the construction of 4,752 toilets and rehabilitated 2,976 others for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and communities.
He said: “About 200 sites have been supported with hand pump boreholes while 126,690 non-food items have been distributed to displaced and vulnerable families.”
He equally said UNICEF has built capacities of state departments and LGAs to deliver safe and sustainable WASH services to communities and IDPs.
He said UNICEF has also supported Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to undertake rapid response to cholera outbreaks.
Adams explained that: “At a time when the Federal Government has made a call to make the country open defecation free through the nationwide Clean Nigeria Campaign, it’s important that all states adopt this in a mission mode, to become open defecation free by 2025.
“Practical steps towards ending open defecation by constructing more toilets and water sources, especially among the most vulnerable population whether in camps or host communities need to be pursued Schools, markets and other public places must not be left out even as we promote behavioural change among the people.”
He added that: “National and state budgets must reflect the importance of toilets and water sources to the health of children and workforce We must prioritise investments in physical and human resources and scale up existing programmes targeting expansion of toilet and water services.”
The UNICEF officer noted that “with this programme, I trust that the media will take the urgency of the moment forward. We must put our money where our mouth is. It is more cost-effective to construct more toilets for conflict-affected people than to treat endless flares of cholera outbreaks with unnecessary mortalities.
“Inability to access toilets is costly. It robs children of their health. When people die of cholera complications, children are sadly stripped of parental care and the most basic protection.”
He however maintained: “UNICEF will continue to work with state governments and RUWASSA in the north-east to promote the wellbeing of conflict-affected people and safeguard the rights of conflict-affected children to life and good health.
“Across the north-east, UNICEF will continue to advocate for one more toilet and borehole until every IDP camp, home, school and market have adequate sanitation and hygiene and facilities that safeguard the wellbeing of all.”