The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has sued for collaboration among stakeholders, including individuals, civil society groups, the organised private sector and development agencies, to complement the government’s role in achieving sustainable sanitation.
The governor, who made the call in commemoration of the World Toilet Day marked on November 19, each year, by the United Nations and its partners, explained that “sustainable sanitation is possible if everyone puts efforts together to achieve the collective goal.”
He said, “On this day, it is imperative to stress the need for individuals, governments, civil society, organised private sector, donor agencies and trade groups, to work with government in achieving sustainable sanitation amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“With increased awareness, sustainable sanitation for all is possible. However, we need to work collectively to ensure people imbibe the culture of using clean water and handwashing facilities regularly to protect them and stop the spread of deadly infectious diseases such as coronavirus (COVID-19), cholera, and typhoid.”
Obaseki described the theme for the 2020 celebration, ‘sustainable sanitation and climate change,’ as apt, noting that it was necessary for stakeholders to synergise and develop solutions to achieving sustainable sanitation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He assured that his administration will continue to prioritise the implementation of projects and policies that seek to protect the environment, adding, “As part of the state government’s approach to stop open defecation, we are working to provide more schools, markets, health centres in rural communities with clean water, handwashing and toilet facilities that would make the environment safe for all.
“With our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project, we have ensured the provision of these amenities and would continue to champion such initiatives to ensure sustainable sanitation.”
According to the United Nations, “World Toilet Day seeks to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which promises sanitation for all by 2030.”
