By: Monday Danladi Bauchi
Residents of Ruggan Fulanin Kabba community in Zungur Ward in Bauchi LGA of Bauchi State has commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the support through education and enlightenment leading to the community attaining open defecation free (ODF) status.
The commendation was made by the Ardo of Community, Muhammadu Dauda while speaking to a team of journalists who were assessing the impact of the ODF status in the Local Government.
The Community Leader who spoke in Hausa explained that the feat was attained through the efforts of the UNICEF, other partners and the Bauchi State Government stressing that UNICEF actually did great through Community awareness campaign.
He added that the community has been existence for over 300 years with the population of about 3000 inhabitants including women and children.
He recalled that hygiene practice among his subjects was not encouraging before the campaign as people just ease themselves at any available spot in the bushes around.
He however noted that UNICEF played vital role in sensitizing them against Open defecation practice, saying that the attainment of open defecation free has led to more healthy living in the community.
According to him, “Before now, children used to be affected by diseases particularly, Cholera and other air and water borne diseases. But thanks to God it has drastically reduced.”
Muhammadu Dauda added that, following the sustained campaign by UNICEF, all households now have VIP toilets for use by members of the households.
“Some households have like 3-5 toilets and they are maintaining them very well in order not to be affected by diseases,” he said.
The community pledged continued awareness among his subjects against open defecation, stressing that hygiene practices remained the best attitude to embrace by all for a healthy society.
He however decried poor road network in the community, saying that it has always been a difficult time for them during rainy season thereby making it difficult for them to transport pregnant women to the nearest health facilities for attention.
According to him, “During rainy season cars, motorcycles, bicycles and other means of transportation are not coming to our community for lack of accessible road”.
Also speaking, the Women Leader of the Community, Hannatu Musa said that women have played vital roles in the attainment of Open defecation free status in Bauchi local government area of Bauchi state.
According to her, “We have stopped our children from engaging in open defecation, they no longer defecate in open spaces, bushes or farms.”
“They have also realized that defecating in open is not good for their health, and so they are now using the toilets,” she said.
Hanatu Musa, who spoke on behalf of women in the community, thanked husbands for providing toilets in their various houses and observed that the provision of more toilets in their community has helped them in maintaining a healthy living.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader, stressed that the formation of WASHCOMM really contributed to awareness creation among the community members particularly the youths on dangers of open defecation.
The Youths Leader added that the WASHCOMM engaged in sensitization and enlightenment among the people pouting out that through various impactful engagements, the people understood and keyed in to the campaign.
According to him, “Now in this village, anyone you see doing open defecation is a visitor because we all know the dangers of open defecation. Not even a child will do that here.”
