By: GNNA Editor
Lira
At least 37,204 representing 4.20% households in the four districts in Lango Sub-Region, Northern Uganda practice open defecation.
A survey conducted between June 10 –June 21, 2022 by SNV Netherlands Development Organization indicates that a significant number of locals in these districts still use bushes, polythene bags (Kaveera) and other public open places each time mother-nature calls.
Under the project Sustainable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, in Alebtong district 4.7% households practice open defecation, Dokolo district stands at 4.4%, Kole district at 3.4% and Lira district at 3.9%.
The same study also indicates that only 9,478 people representing 1.07% have latrine facilities and they use soap. Additionally, 7,618 people representing 0.86% have facilities but without soap.
Need for sensitization
Dr. Sonja Hofbauer, the Global Technical Advisor water supply services for SNV Netherlands Development Organization attributed rampant diarrhea and typhoid arising from poor hygiene and sanitation; and poor human waste management.
“In sanitation we want every household in these four districts to have basic sanitation that means improved pit latrines, toilets that can be used,” Dr. Sonja told GNNA in an interview.
Dr. Sonja said the findings are worrying and thus calls for urgent action from all homesteads and stakeholders to undertake a regional wide effort to mobilize communities against the practice.
“The task for us is to mobilize the households to invest in their toilets and hand washing facilities since it is everyone’s responsibility,” she explained.
The survey also revealed that the situation was worse in rural communities with only 2% of the households having hand washing facilities with soap which is way below the National average which stands at 36%.
Peri-urban areas to blame
Lira City environmental officer Leonard Otika attributed the act of open defecation to population growth due to the creation of peri-urban areas.
“There is always a challenge of erecting public toilets, ventilated pit latrines because of limited spaces hence making a number of households to share with their neighbors,” he said.
He observed that during day time, more people visit public toilets compared to night hours where most of the toilets are closed and are in-accessible.
“It has been observed that people tend to use open spaces like road reserves, drainage spaces to ease themselves which is against the public Health Act. We encourage the members of the public to desist from it.”
“Lira City council intends to work closely with the community, members of the local council and the village health team to ensure that they are sensitized so that they comply and erect pit latrines for their consumption,” he revealed.
Jillian Akullu, the Alebtong Resident District Commissioner said; “there is a need to disseminate information on the dangers of open defecation. Different stakeholders like the cultural, religious, and political leaders must be engaged so that there is a collective effort to end the vice.”
She however blamed some health inspectors both at the lower government and village level for failure to disseminate information on the dangers of practicing open defecation.
“At the levels of the local governments, we have health inspectors, these are the people who should have been helping us to gather information on those who do not have toilets,” she added.
A report by the Ministry of Health indicates that a total of 14.6million people representing 32.4% of the total population in Uganda still practice open defecation.
The population that practiced open defecation in 2019/2020 reduced to 22% from 22.8% in the 2018/20219 financial year.
Meanwhile, the percentage of the rural population having access to safely managed sanitation experienced a slight decline from 7.1% to 7% in the year 2019/2020 financial year.
