The inter-communal cri
ses rocking some communities in Abi Local Government Area, Cross River State and Ebonyi State border communities have hindered scaling up of access to sanitation and hygiene in the areas.
The Technical Officer for Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) Programme, Mrs Felicity Bessong made the disclosure in Calabar at the ongoing advocacy visit to the state.
Bessong said that the crises between Adadama Community in Abi Local Government, Cross River and Ikwo in Ebonyi State had slowed down activities of RUSHPIN officials toward meeting the target of ending open defecation.
“One of the challenges we are facing is the continued crises in some communities in Abi Local Government, as many of our officials fear for their lives when they want to monitor activities.
“There are times when we need to go to the community on hygiene practices, they would tell us not to come because the community is not safe, as they are fighting with Ebonyi border communities.”
The officer said that the RUSHPIN programme was helping to increase sanitation and hygiene through theCommunity Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach.
Bessong called for strong political commitment at all levels of government toward improved allocation of appropriate resources for sanitation and hygiene.
Also speaking, Head of Administration in Abi Local Government, Mr Okon Edet, said that the council would continue to play its part in hygiene promotion and change in people’s behaviour.
Edet commended the RUSHPIN programme for its commitment to empower communities on how to improve hygiene and sanitation.
He reiterated that the council will continue to support full implementation of the programme.
Our correspondent observed during a visit to Ekureku Community that open defecation was still being practised in the area.
The Community Leader, Mr James Awase, urged the RUSHPIN not to relent in its effort to put on end to open defecation.
Awase said many under-five children were reported to have died from diarrhoea and cholera, adding that this was causing untold pains and loss of man hours due to illnesses.
He, however, pledged to create more awareness on the benefit of constructing and using toilets in the community.
. The State RUSHPIN Programme Manager, Mr Patrick Emori, urged the community not to relent in their efforts in ensuring good sanitary condition.
One of the children, David Enang, 12, said, “We don’t defecate anymore in the bushes and paths, we know that when we do, flies can touch it and can get into our foods and make us ill.
“We have been told by RUSHPIN officials the dangers of not building and using our toilets, and everyone in this community knows this.”
Our correspondent reports that sometime in June 2014, Nigeria received five million dollars from the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) to address the problem of sanitation and hygiene in Benue and Cross River.
The RUSHPIN is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the GSF, the grant-giving body of the UN Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.