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70% of Nigerians don't have access to toilet - UNICEF
The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that more than 100 million Nigeria's don't have access to toilets as the nation joins the rest of the world to mark the World Toilet Day.
It said the poor sanitary condition is responsible for the spread of diseases in Nigeria.
These figures are coming as the Federal Government said 2,771 cases of cholera epidemics was reported this year with 124 deaths.
Speaking at the celebration of World Toilets Day, UNICEF Chief Sanitary, Water and Hygiene Officer, Kannan Nadar described the situation in Nigeria as very critical.
He said, "Nigeria has about one hundred million people without access to toilets, this is worrisome, as it is possible for everyone to own toilet, it doesn't cost much. "Sanitation and toilets are fundamental human rights. since it is possible for everyone to own toilet, it is not justified for people to die of diseases related to open defecation."
In his remark, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the recent occurrence of cholera epidemics could be stopped if there was a mechanism to stop open defecation.
He said, "as many as an estimated 2771 cases and 124 deaths with case fatality rate of 4.5 per cent were reported, this yearly occurrence of cholera epidemics could be stopped if there is a mechanism to stop open defecation which will prevent contamination of water sources and foods that are major causes of cholera in the country."
Head of Governance, WaterAid Nigeria, Tolani Busari expressed concern that barely two years to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Nigeria was yet to address the problem of poor sanitation.
She said: "staggering 37 million people still practice open defecation, nearly 100,000 children under the age of five dying of diarrhea in Nigeria every year as a result of poor sanitation and water."
She added: "Sanitation has always been the most neglected and off-track of the MDGs, with little funding, resources or political will to address the crisis. There has been little or no progress towards the agreed target of allocating 0.5 per cent of GDP to sanitation."
It said the poor sanitary condition is responsible for the spread of diseases in Nigeria.
These figures are coming as the Federal Government said 2,771 cases of cholera epidemics was reported this year with 124 deaths.
Speaking at the celebration of World Toilets Day, UNICEF Chief Sanitary, Water and Hygiene Officer, Kannan Nadar described the situation in Nigeria as very critical.
He said, "Nigeria has about one hundred million people without access to toilets, this is worrisome, as it is possible for everyone to own toilet, it doesn't cost much. "Sanitation and toilets are fundamental human rights. since it is possible for everyone to own toilet, it is not justified for people to die of diseases related to open defecation."
In his remark, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the recent occurrence of cholera epidemics could be stopped if there was a mechanism to stop open defecation.
He said, "as many as an estimated 2771 cases and 124 deaths with case fatality rate of 4.5 per cent were reported, this yearly occurrence of cholera epidemics could be stopped if there is a mechanism to stop open defecation which will prevent contamination of water sources and foods that are major causes of cholera in the country."
Head of Governance, WaterAid Nigeria, Tolani Busari expressed concern that barely two years to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Nigeria was yet to address the problem of poor sanitation.
She said: "staggering 37 million people still practice open defecation, nearly 100,000 children under the age of five dying of diarrhea in Nigeria every year as a result of poor sanitation and water."
She added: "Sanitation has always been the most neglected and off-track of the MDGs, with little funding, resources or political will to address the crisis. There has been little or no progress towards the agreed target of allocating 0.5 per cent of GDP to sanitation."
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