The Minister of State Environment, Sharon Ikeazor has said that Open Defecation could lead to an increase in the rate of sexual assault on children and women.
Ikeazor made this known at the 2019 World Toilet Day 10,000 Man-March against Open Defecation in Nigeria, with the theme: “Toilet for All: Focusing on leaving no one behind” Abuja. She said many women and girls were being sexually assaulted as they defecated in the bush.
The ten-thousand man-march is a roadshow organised by the ministry from Area 1 roundabout to the old parade ground in Area 3, Garki, Abuja to demonstrate the need to end open defecation in the country.
Participants in the roadshow included civil servants, primary and secondary school children, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC members, representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, and Gbagyi youths.
The roadshow is in commemoration of the forthcoming World Toilet Day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly to hold on every November 19th.
The National Consultant, Public Health and Environment, World Health Organisation, WHO in Nigeria Edwin Edeh, said that the march was a significant one as sanitation was necessary to human health.
According to Edeh, the theme for this year’s world toilet day is significant to WHO because it will help the organisation to galvanise actions among stakeholders and people at various levels to address open defecation in Nigeria.