Story Summary:
- UNICEF has warned of a severe health crisis in Nigeria, with 200 million people at risk from 17 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) due to widespread open defecation.
- Jane Bevan, UNICEF’s Chief of WASH, emphasised that the ongoing practice of open defecation, poor hygiene, and lack of clean water significantly increase the risk of NTDs and urged for improved sanitation practices.
- Efforts are underway to end open defecation by 2030, including constructing sanitation facilities, implementing hygiene education programmes, and promoting behavioural change within communities.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a stark warning about an impending health crisis in Nigeria, with 200 million citizens at risk from 17 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The organisation has highlighted the urgent need to tackle open defecation, a primary driver of these diseases.
At a two-day media dialogue held in Lagos, Jane Bevan, UNICEF’s Chief of WASH, underscored the preventable nature of NTDs such as schistosomiasis, trachoma, and intestinal worms. Bevan pointed out that the persistent practice of open defecation, coupled with poor hygiene and limited access to clean water, significantly heightens the risk of these diseases for millions of Nigerians.
According to the WASH National Routine Mapping (WASHNORM), 47 million people in Nigeria still practise open defecation, while only 18 per cent of the population benefits from safely managed sanitation services. Ebonyi State tops the list for open defecation rates, followed by Plateau State, whereas Zamfara State has the lowest rate.
During the media dialogue on “Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria and the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases” in Lagos, Bevan remarked that many NTDs are transmitted through inadequate sanitation. “Unless we all adopt safe sanitation and hygiene practices, we risk an increase in NTDs,” she cautioned.
Bevan emphasised that hand washing is one of the most cost-effective forms of immunisation available to Nigerians, including children, helping to save lives and prevent these diseases. She also noted that Nigeria has achieved open defecation-free status in 126 local government areas (LGAs) and is working diligently to extend this success to more areas.
To address this crisis, UNICEF and its partners are ramping up efforts to eradicate open defecation by 2030. This includes the construction of sanitation facilities, the implementation of hygiene education programmes, and community engagement to encourage behavioural change.
Bevan stressed that ending open defecation is essential for reversing the rise in NTDs and reiterated that hand washing is a straightforward yet powerful method of disease prevention.
UNICEF WASH Specialist Monday Johnson supported these views, highlighting Nigeria’s significant NTD burden and the role of open defecation in their spread. Johnson pointed out that Nigeria bears the highest NTD burden in Africa, with open defecation remaining a major factor in their transmission.
