80% Of Diseases Nigerians Suffer Are Caused By Open Defecation

Hajiya Rakiya Datti, the Deputy Director, Niger Ministry of Health, has said that over 80 per cent of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, polio and Ebola are contacted through open defecation. Datti disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

She also explained that children who were vulnerable die daily from the outbreak of the disease which are transmitted through water and air.

“As long as open defecation is not put to an end, the society will be diseased, as there will be infection and re-infection even when government puts more efforts to curtail it.’’

“It is the responsibility of the Urban Development Board to ensure that toilets are incorporated in the master plan before any building can take place, she said.

She also explained that promotional c campaigns and programmes will help educate citizens of the hazards of defecating openly and also help in curtailing it.

She also urged the Federal Government and state governments to provide adequate facilities in public places while also advising private ventures to go into the business of building public toilets.