Nigeria loses over $1 billion annually due to open defecation

As a result of open defecation, findings by the European Union (EU) and United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) have disclosed the country is losing more than $1billion annually since 2010 while another N445 billion is being lost due to poor sanitation.

Quoting the World Bank, the EU-UNICEF Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) specialist, Amos Kudzala, disclosed this yesterday during the presentation of certificate to 98 Open Defecation Free (ODF) communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River state

Kudzala, who urged indigenes to join the fight against open defecation, which he noted is associated with epidemic outbreak, thanked WASHCOM and other stakeholders for ensuring health living among the rural dwellers.

In view of this, EU and UNICEF have declared their readiness to partner with the Cross River state government to ensure that communities in the state are open defecation free.

At the ceremony, the State governor, Senator Ben Ayade applauded the EU/UNICEF for adopting best practices and working strategies that have greatly improved hygiene and sanitation in rural communities of the state noting that the EU/UNICEF intervention in WASH, in addition to other state government improved Primary Health Care, are truly changing unhealthy situations, as it is evident now that maternal and child mortality arising from unsanitary environment have reasonably reduced in the state.