Open Defecation: Taskforce Okays 217 Communities In Katsina

Two hundred and seventeen communities in Sandamu local government area  of Katsina State have been certified as Open Defecation Free (ODF) by the national task group on sanitation.
The Director, Water and Sanitation of the area, Alhaji Magaji Abu, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Sandamu, recently.
He said the certification and declaration was made last week by the 3rd party monitors on open defecation, explaining that the monitors are the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) and the State Task Group on Sanitation (STGS).
Alhaji Abu said the enlightenment and sensitisation campaign on the dangers of open defecation would be sustained.
According to him, efforts are being made to make more communities that are still in the habit of open defecation ODF, to stop the habit.
He added that Sandamu was among the 20 participating local governments in the sanitation, hygiene and water programme, describing the programme as a project being jointly implemented by the state government and UNICEF.
The director also said that 40 boreholes and toilets were constructed in 11 primary schools in the area in 2016.
Abu disclosed that contract for the drilling of 30 additional boreholes had been awarded to promote consumption of safe and portable water in the area this year.
The director noted that the criteria for allocating the water and sanitation facility to a community were based on the compliance of each benefitting community to the rules against open defecation.
He commended Katsina State Government for ensuring regular release of counterpart funding for the project.
While lauding the efforts of UNICEF for its commitment to the programme, he noted that the present administration in the state was determined to promote healthy living of its people.