Ekiti State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof Mobolaji Aluko has charged residents of the State to promote healthy sanitation practices as the State joined the rest of the world to mark the year 2023 World Toilet Day.
Professor Aluko who gave the charge in Ado Ekiti, reiterated the commitment of the State Government to the general well-being of the people, stressing that a clean and healthy environment takes top priority in Government’s policies, programmes and activities.
Noting that the world toilet day is the United Nations’ attempt to sensitize societies about the dangers associated with improper disposal of human waste, Aluko said that the State government has taken the initiative to extend the sensitization beyond the annual event which is just one day out of 365days in a year in order to achieve best result.
Aluko added that the State Government, in line with this year’s theme “Accelerated Change” extended the sensitization campaign to faith-based organizations including churches and mosques in collaboration with Local Governments Water, Sanitation and Hygiene departments to sensitize people on the One-House/One-Toilet initiative.
Explaining that the focus is to attain an Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across all Local Government areas, the Commissioner explained that achieving the one-house, one toilet initiative would tremendously reduce and may totally eradicate open defecation in the State.
He therefore charged every household without toilet to build at least one to attain an Open Defecation Free (ODF) and as well avoid the spread of diseases that presently kill about 1000 Children under five years every single day globally.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr Olumide Ajayi, in his own contribution described the standard of improved toilet to be: excreta being separated from human contact, connected to sewer system or septic tank, well ventilated improved pit latrine with slab and with hand washing facilities.
He sought for the collaboration among the Local Government Chairmen, Communities leaders, churches, mosques and relevant stakeholders to collectively create an avenue for more awareness towards achieving Open Defecation Free across all the Local Government Areas of the State.
At Ikole Ekiti AUD Central Mosque, the Chief Imam Alhaji Alabi Azeez Olatubosun, while welcoming the sensitization team, affirmed the usefulness of toilet to humanity saying it goes a long way in preventing spread of epidemic diseases.
He said according to Islamic faith, cleanliness is second to none hence the need for Muslim fateful to embrace construction and use of improved sanitation facilities.
In his own remarks, the lead pastor of Araromi Baptist Church, Igede Ekiti, Revd. Olumuyiwa Emmanuel expressed appreciation to the State Government for efforts made to sensitize people on the importance of having at least one toilet per household for proper hygiene.
He promised to follow up on people who don’t have toilet and encourage them to have one as well as maintain a proper hygienic lifestyle.
