Nigeria, July 1, 2016 – The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Chief of Field Office, Rivers State, Mr. WillBoard Ngambi, has attributed the frequent outbreak of cholera in Rivers State to open defecation which is still practiced in virtually all rural communities and some urban areas in the state.
The UNICEF chief who spoke at a Media Networking Workshop for media practitioners, in Port Harcourt, called on the state government to intensify its sensitisation programme on the health hazards associated with open defecation.
The programme was held in collaboration with the Rivers State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA). The aim of the programme is geared towards forging a working partnership and synergy with the media in bringing the joint activities of the agency and governments to the front burner of public discourse.
Mr. Ngambi stated that UNICEF was ready and willing to collaborate with the state and local governments in providing toilet facilities in the rural and urban communities.
He explained: “The frequent outbreak of cholera in the state is a huge wake up call to the state, local governments and multilateral donor agencies to gird their loins and actively confront the current health challenge in the state”.
He disclosed that one gram of excreta that is defecated in the open, is capable of generating 10 million viruses; one million bacteria; 1000 parasite cysts and 100 parasites eggs.
Ngambi, therefore, stressed that UNICEF is determined to collaborate with the state and local governments to re-orientate the people, improve the level of personal hygiene as well as provide better sanitary facilities for the people.
