State Waste Management Board Chairman Calls for Strict Adherence to World Toilet Day
The Delta State Chairman of the Waste Management Board, Hon.Matthew Mofe Edema, has called on residents to strictly observe the principles of World Toilet Day, stressing its importance in promoting public health and environmental safety.
Hon. Edema made this known while speaking with newsmen, noting that World Toilet Day helps to promote, sensitize, and enhance public health.
He explained that the lack of proper toilet facilities contributes to the spread of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, and typhoid.
According to him, by emphasizing sanitation, the global event encourages governments and communities to improve hygiene practices, thereby reducing preventable illnesses and deaths.
The Chairman also stated that proper toilet management is essential to protecting the environment, pointing out that poorly handled human waste often contaminates rivers, soil, and groundwater.
He stressed the need for sustainable sanitation systems that safely dispose of waste while preserving the ecosystem.
Speaking further, Hon. Edema highlighted the role of sanitation in upholding human dignity, describing toilet access as a basic human right.
He noted that safe sanitation ensures privacy and safety, especially for women and girls, who may face harassment when such facilities are unavailable.
He also emphasized that sanitation supports education, as children tend to miss school when clean toilets are not available.
Adequate sanitation in schools, he said, creates a better learning environment and boosts attendance, particularly for girls.
Hon. Edema maintained that communities with improved sanitation systems enjoy better economic outcomes.
According to him, clean environments reduce healthcare costs, increase productivity, attract businesses, promote tourism, and help alleviate poverty.
He warned residents who engage in open defecation to desist from the act, noting that Government Taskforce members are on ground to arrest and prosecute offenders in line with sanitation laws.
The Chairman reiterated that the Government has continued to sensitize the public and ensure a clean environment, adding that residents must join hands with the Government for their own well-being.
