The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says 46 million Nigerians still practice open defecation.
The organisation through one of its officials, Moustapha Niang, stated this on Friday, September 15, 2017, while presenting an overview of the UNICEF supported water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme in Nigeria at the EU-UNICEF WASH media dialogue in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.It was also revealed that out of the 46 million Nigerians that practice open defecation,33 million live in rural areas.
He also disclosed that 15 million Nigerians still drink water from rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and irrigation canals while 57 million Nigerians do not have access to safe water supply and 45,000 children under the age of five die annually from diseases caused by poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene.In the north-east, only 23 percent and nine percent of internally displaced people (IDP) have access to water and sanitation respectively.
UNICEF warned that Nigeria is unlikely to meet the sustainable development goal (SDG-6) targets unless necessary steps are taken to address issues of water, sanitation and hygiene.The organization also called on government and all stakeholders to do the needful to rescue the situation.
Conclusively, he stated that as part of efforts to achieve the objectives, WASH facilities have been provided in 527 schools and 229 health centres in selected states between January and May 2017.
Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram
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