By Z.O. Agberemi Project Officer (Sanitation) UNICEF

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ByZ.O. AgberemiProject Officer
(Sanitation)UNICEF Abuja. NigeriaNational
Water and Sanitation Forum Abuja August 29
Sept.1, 2006

• Prioritizing Sanitation and Hygiene

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Background- Nigeria

• Estimated Population of over 120 Million.
• Water Supply Coverage(NDHS-2003)
• Urban Areas - 65
• Rural Areas - 40
• Sanitation Coverage(NDHS-2003)
• Urban Areas - 90 (Includes Traditional Pit
  Latrines)
• Rural Areas - 66 (Includes Traditional Pit
  Latrines)
• Access to Hand washing facilities (Water, Soap
  Basin) (NDHS-2003) 43
• Estimated 200,000 deaths (mainly children)
  annually due to diarrheal diseases.
• High mortality and morbidity rates due to other
  sanitation and hygiene related diseases.

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Definitions of Sanitation Hygiene

• Sanitation means measures necessary for improving
  and protecting health and well being of the
  people.
• The interventions often include Safe human
  excreta disposal, personal hygiene, domestic
  hygiene, solid waste disposal and waste water
  disposal.
• The WHO and UNICEF JMP defines basic sanitation
  as the lowest-cost technology ensuring hygienic
  excreta disposal and a clean and healthful living
  environment both at home and in the neighbourhood
  of users.
• Access to basic sanitation includes safety and
  privacy in the use of these services.
• Coverage is the proportion of people using
  improved sanitation facilities such as public
  sewer connection, septic tank system, pour flush
  latrine, simple latrine and Ventilated Improved
  Pit latrine.

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Major Factors Militating against Sanitation and
Hygiene

• Low priority and funding
• Lack of well defined Institutional framework for
  service delivery.
• Unfavourable Policy Environment.
• Weak and Poorly enforced Public Health laws.
• Poorly motivated Sector professionals.

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Disparity between Sanitation and Water
Major Problems Identified By Rural Households
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Some Benefits of Sanitation and Hygiene

• Decrease in mortality and morbidity rates.
• Increase productivity, reduction in poverty and
  Economic Development.
• Improves nutrition and the physical mental growth
  of children.
• Improves school enrolment, attendance and
  performance.
• Increase the survival of People living with HIV
  and AIDS.

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Impact of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene on
Diarrhoea Reduction
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Focusing on Sanitation and Hygiene

• Prioritize Sanitation and Hygiene .
• Mobilize Political Will.
• Demand Approach to Sanitation and Hygiene
  Development.
• Building on Existing practices.
• Pay attention to gender.
• Sustained Promotional efforts.
• Harmonize Institutional Framework for service
  delivery.
• Ensure enabling policy environment.
• Enforcement of Existing Sanitation laws.
• More involvement of NGOs, CBOs and Private
  sector.
• Resource mobilization specifically for sanitation
  and hygiene.

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Conclusion

• Prioritizing Sanitation and Hygiene is a big
  issue for consideration
• The problem of Sanitation and Hygiene is as
  shocking as HIV and AIDS and as debilitating as
  Malaria.
• Globally, an estimated US 65 billion economic
  benefits can be achieved annually from meeting
  the sanitation target.
• Sanitation is more important and Hygiene is the
  most important for health impact of intervention
  to be achieved
• The present emphasis by government on water
  supply alone would not transform human health.
• In practice, the relationship between water
  supply, sanitation and hygiene should not be one
  of competition but of synergy with adequate
  attention and resources given to all.

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A Final Word!!!!

• Are we to decide on the importance of issues by
  asking how fashionable or glamorous they are? Or
  by asking how seriously they affect how many?
• Nelson Mandela

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Thank You