Oyo State Government, Stakeholders Reaffirm Dedication to Ending Open Defecation 

The Oyo State Government and stakeholders in the Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the state have reaffirmed their dedication to ending open defecation and promoting the use of toilets and good hygiene practices in every community across the council area and the state.

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The commitment was made during the inauguration of Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) training of environmental officers and staff of the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), held in Oyo Town.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, reveals that the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwasherimi Ajetumobi, at the event, appreciated the good efforts of the state government and the United Nations Children Education Funds (UNICEF).

Ajetunmobi specifically applauded the efforts of the present administration in phasing out open defecation in the state towards curbing the preventable outbreak of the epidemic and called for collaboration among all stakeholders towards ensuring an overall improvement in the general health and sanitation of Ibarapa East.

She stated: “This shows that the Oyo State Government has extended its commitment to end open defecation, not only in Ibarapa East Local Government Area but in the whole state.”

On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kehinde Ayinde, encouraged the participants to make frantic efforts in moving from curative measures to preventive measures, commending the efforts of the supporting partners, UNICEF, in the reduction of the disease burden of states in the country.

Similarly, the General Manager of the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mr Adeduntan Adeniyi, reiterated the Agency’s commitment to ending open defecation in the state soon.

Also speaking, the Southwest Zonal Representative of UNICEF, Mr Monday Johnson, said it takes a lot of time for an individual to adapt to a new behavior, but at the end of the training participants must be able to sensitize Ibarapa Community towards putting an end to open defecation.

He encouraged them to teach the communities on best sanitary practices, like regular hand washing, as preventive measures to curb the spread of diseases.

The Director, of Sanitation, Mrs. Titilayo Obayemi said the Community Led Total Sanitation training focused on capacity building of the environmental health officers of the Ibarapa East Local Government Area, relevant stakeholders at local and state levels, and RUWASSA staff on achieving sustainable behavioral change, sanitation, and hygiene practices through motivation, sensitization and advocacy.

Obayemi noted that the capacity-building training will contribute to the stopping of open defecation in all households and communities in the state.