By: Amina Ahmed
Alhaji Hardo Umar, Village head of Wuro Jauro, Bauchi local Government has ascribed low cases of Water borne diseases to access to toilet facilities in households.
Umar disclosed this in an engagement with newsmen Wuro Jauro,Kangere community in Bauchi local government council.
He said the in the past,open defecation was practiced in the community,therefore out of pocket expenditure was too high.
He said that the a holistic approach was adopted by stakeholders to end the unheathy.
Umar said before embracing the use of improved toilets in households,the committee recorded cases of cholera and typhoid to mention but few.
He however, noted that a committee was set up to create awareness to save lives in the community especially during the rainy season.
“ In the past,our children defecate outside, causing environmental pollution but still we were adamant.
“ But with the coming of Water and Sanitation committee,we adopted the idea and began campaigns Bob build improved latrine to end the unhealthy practice.
Similarly, Alhaji Hussaini Abubakar,District Head of Miri Community, Bauchi local Government Council, has attributed the practice of open defecation amongst some residents as part of spiritual belief.
Similarly,Alhaji Adamu Sabo, General manager,Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) said that a monitoring mechanism has been adopted to ensure the local government ODF.
He said that the local government authorized have bye laws with prescribed penalties for defecation openly.
The General Manager attributed the success of ODF in Bauchi local government council to stakeholders’ commitment with various funding and support from United Nations Education Fund(UNICEF),Bauchi Field Office.
“UNICEF trains various toilet business owners in the state and has supported the water,sanitation and hygiene units in the state.
“With Bauchi local government council certified as ODF,we will continue to monitor and conduct marketing promotion to ensure every household has toilet facilities,” he said.
He said the agency has reached and mobilized 1,400 communities in the state on Open Defecation.