United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), and Small/Medium Enterprises (SME) have advised students of Federal polytechnic Oko on the need to desist from passing excreta in the open.
The agencies jointly made this known during a programme organized by the managements of the institution which focused on educating the students against open defecation, poor sanitation and hygiene, identifying them as the major causes of diseases threatening the existence of mankind.
From their reports and researches it was discovered that open defecation aside from leading to air or water pollution, also causes diarrhea and intestinal worm infections, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, polio, trachoma and others.
They further explained that human excreta which usually contains large numbers of germs, when exposed in an open environment becomes prone to attract flies on them which makes it easy for these flies to transport the germs to foods and fruits to be consumed by humans.
Hence UNICEF Nigeria Consultant, Mr DIPAK Roy advised the students and general public to ensure they make use of toilet and its facilities, and as well wash their hands frequently with soaps so as to minimize diseases.
On his part the Rector of the institution, Prof. Godwin Onu represented who was by the Deputy Rector, Comrade Ejike Nwagbona, while describing the polytechnic as a hub of training disclosed that the institution enjoys proper sanitation since inception, because toilets or convenient exist at all their accommodations and classrooms.
The Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Utilities and Water Resources, Mr. Douglas Mbah, exhorted the citizenry to refrain from defecating at bushes among other open places and revealed that his government has started a programme to check the occurrence of open defecation all over the state, declaring that "We will soon begin to clamp on perpetrators of the act because we want to ensure that our environment remains clean and sanitized always which will led to a healthy populace.
Highlights of the ceremony were presentation of certificates to the participants, organizers of the event and the Host. Also the team embarked on a tour to ascertain the pace of work at some of the ongoing super-structured cost-efficient toilets projects in the polytechnic hostels designed to stay 5 to 6 years without been filled up with excreta.
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