In commemoration of the 2020 World Toilet Day and as part of efforts towards achieving the national target of ending open defecation in the country by 2025, Harpic has partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to upgrade and refurbish forty- seven (47) public toilet units for six communities in Lagos.
The donation was done alongside the flag-off of the ‘Clean Lagos: Use the Toilet’ campaign on November 19.
“The newly refurbished public toilets are located at Oshodi, Ojota, New Garage, Apapa, Costain, and Leventis in Victoria Island,” said Asif Hashimi, Country Manager, Reckitt Benckiser (RB), Hygiene West Africa.
According to Hashimi, Harpic’s commitment to changing the stories surrounding open defecation and toilet sanitation in Lagos, and Nigeria in general, Findings from the 2018 WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) survey reveal that 47 million Nigerians practice open defecation.
“As a result of this, Nigeria loses about 1.3 percent (N455 billion) of GDP annually due to poor sanitation and more than 100, 000 children under the age of five die every year as a result of water and sanitation related diseases, according to the survey.
“The brand is interested in tackling the challenge of open defecation in Nigeria as a way of ensuring Healthier and Happier lives in Nigeria.
According to him, “At the moment, Nigeria ranks first among countries practicing open defecation globally, This ‘stigma’ can only be removed if we all join hands to work towards this goal.
“The brand’s purpose is to help Nigerians access hygienically clean toilets and also be an enabler for change in the fight for improved sanitation in Nigeria.
“The toilet refurbishment project will inspire a big positive attitudinal change, which will impact the lives of the people and the environment. It is about taking action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030,” said Hashimi.
