FG: Over 3.5 million Children Suffering from Diarrhea
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The federal government has revealed that more than 3.5 million children suffer from diarrheal diseases, and called for improved hygiene from Nigerians.
Speaking at this year’s National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD), the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Ibrahim Yusufu, lamented that hygienic habits mostly affected children who were less than five years old.
He said: “Poor sanitation has been identified as being responsible for a significant percentage of preventable communicable diseases particularly in developing countries including Nigeria.
“A large number of children die every year due to sanitation and hygiene enabled diseases. More than 3.5 million children suffer from diarrhea diseases and this is not a small figure. Children, who are less than five years old, are more prone to such diseases.”
“The advent of emerging and re-emerging diseases such as COVID-19, Lassa Fever, Monkey pox, Cholera etc. in Nigeria has further underscored the fact that access to sanitation and hygiene is not only a fundamental human right that safeguards public health and human dignity but also an essential need when it comes to disease prevention.
“This year’s National Environmental Sanitation Day, therefore, calls for individuals, communities, governments at all levels, development partners etc. to be involved in the planning and implementation of sanitation and hygiene activity within their immediate environment, community and the nation at large.”
He said this year’s theme “Promoting sustainable waste management for a healthy environment: stop open dumping” could not be more apt and timely, considering the critical role sanitation and hygiene play in preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid fever, Lassa Fever, COVID-19 virus, Monkey pox virus etc.
“The theme is also a clarion call for everyone of us to work together and leverage on lessons learned from response to COVID-19 to address the neglect of sanitation and hygiene as a major means of preventing and controlling transmission of sanitation and hygiene associated infectious diseases.”
