By Amina Rabiu Bako
Kano State Government has hosted this year’s World Toilet Day with a significant milestone of achieving Open-Defecation-Free status across 26 out of the 44 local government areas of the state.
AgroClimateNews reports that World Toilet Day is celebrated on November 19th every year to strengthen efforts towards achieving open-defecation-free.
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The state governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, disclosed the achievements recorded in a one-day sensitization exercise in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment to celebrate the annual World Toilet Day, held at the Coronation Hall Government House Kano.
He said the state government was working round the clock by renovating public toilets in markets, schools, and motor parks with a view to ending open defecation in the station.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf said, so far 26 Local Government Areas have been declared Open Defecation free in Kano State.
He called for continued community engagement and individual responsibility in maintaining a clean environment and supporting Kano State’s sanitation policies.
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In his remarks, the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, attributed the persistent re-occurrence of annual cholera outbreaks in some states of Nigeria to inadequate Toilet Facilities.
Represented by Haliya Bahijja Abubakar, the Minister added that the negligence of people in poor excreta and sewage disposal causes killer diseases among women and children.
He said: “One of the major consequences of poor excreta and sewage disposal is the high rate of Diarrhea disease, which is the second cause of high maternal mortality and child morbidity d rates among children under the age of five.”
AgroClimateNews reports that the minister urged environmental health officers and sanitary inspectors to enhance sanitary inspections to ensure universal access to safe toilets.
On his part, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Nasir Sule Garo, emphasized the significance of commemorating this year’s annual event in Kano State.
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He said: “For the first time, this program is being hosted outside the capital territory, and Kano is chosen because if Kano wins, the entire Nigeria wins. Kano holds the key to free open defecation in Nigeria.”
Twenty-six Local Governments in the state were recognized for achieving open-defecation-free status and promoting public health.
This year’s event is themed: “Toilet – A Place for Peace.”
