The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm on a looming health crisis in Nigeria, where 200 million citizens are vulnerable to 17 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The organization emphasizes the urgent need to address open defecation, a key driver of these diseases.
UNICEF’s Chief of WASH, Jane Bevan, highlighted the preventable nature of NTDs like schistosomiasis, trachoma, and intestinal worms, stressing that poor sanitation, hygiene, and lack of access to clean water exacerbate the vulnerability of millions to these diseases.
To combat this crisis, UNICEF and its partners are intensifying efforts to end open defecation by 2030, constructing sanitation facilities, implementing hygiene education programs, and engaging communities to promote behavioral change.
Experts warn that Nigeria’s high burden of NTDs is fueled by open defecation, which perpetuates a cycle of poverty, malnutrition, and ill health. Addressing open defecation is crucial for reversing the trend of NTDs, and practicing handwashing is a simple yet effective way to prevent these diseases.
Vanguard.
