World Toilet Day: FCT RUWASSA Task Residents On Environmental Hygiene.
By Hudu Yakubu Abuja
All household in the Federal Capital Territory particularly in the rural areas have been advised to construct a toilet for the use of their families to reduce open defecation practice.
The Executive Director, FCT Rural Water Supply And Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, Dr Mohammed Dan- Hassan gave the advice during a public sensitization campaign to mark World Toilet Day in Abuja.
The Executive Director FCT RUWASSA, Dr Mohammed Ali- Hassan explained that the FCT has Concluded plans to construct ten thousand public toilets across the six Area Councils and the city center to guard against the practice of open defecation.
During the sensitization, Dr Dan- Hassan said the measure is in line With the Presidential Mandate of order 009 to end open defecation.
Dr Dan – Hassan said campaign was targeted at creating massive awareness on the dangers of living in an unhygienic environment.
Dr Dan- Hassan appealed to the managers of the already completed public toilets to keep the facilities affordable and neat all times .
“The essence is to encourage every household to have a toilet or a latrine, so that people don’t have to defecate outside. Because open defecation come back into our food, water, and get back into our bodies in the form of diarrhea, cholera, gastroenteritis among others. Hence, once we excrete, we must manage it very well. Because the waste has lots of germs and parasites.
“On the road map to to endopen defecation in the FCT, the plan is to construct 10000 toilets across the territory both in the city, semi urban and the rural communities “ Dan- Hassan said.
Earlier at the UTC market, the Leader of the Public Enlightenment Team of FCT RUWASSA, Mrs Mariam Umar reiterated the Agency ‘s readiness to continue to champion the course against open defecation until FCT attain Zero Level.
The Manager of the newly Constructed Public Toilets in Area One Motor park, Mr Suleiman Kabiru said the patronage is increasing by the day , as a result of intense awareness creation.
“Many people are happy. Everyday we get up to 300 to 350 people visiting this toilet. Many are yet to know. They pay between #20 to #50 to use the toilet, and #100 to bath.” Kabiru said
Mr Peter John, who is a driver and Mrs Rakiyat Umar , food vendor that operates from the Area One Motor park commended the initiative and appealed to Government to replicate same in rural communities and other public buildings.
They also applauded the managers of the toilet for maintaining standards in the facility.
Some other residents , Calistus Mmzuuga and Alex Okwe however appealed to the Federal Government to sustain the stride attained, by constructing more public toilets in all strategic areas of the territory.
They specifically called on Government to consider building Public Toilets for Malls firectly opposite the UTC Market, to check open defecation practice in the Area.
The Directorate of FCT RUWASSA campaign team took the campaign against open defecation to strategic locations in Area one and Three motor parks, UTC Area 10 Market and AMAC Secretariat.
