Open Defecation World Toilet Day

Hygiene and sanitation brand, Hypo, has called for increased public trust in public toilet facilities to make Nigeria overcome the challenge of open defecation. The organisation made this call while marking this year’s World Toilet Day themed: “Sustainable Sanitation and Climate change in partnership with Lagos State government.

In marking the day, Hypo sponsored the cleaning of public toilets and offered free defecation service for Lagosians in selected facilities across Lagos state for three days.
Speaking at an occasion to observe the day in Ojodu Berger public Toilet, Lagos, Brand Manager of Hypo Toilet Cleaner, Akintayo Akinseloyin, noted that the gesture was part of the company’s effort to build public confidence in public toilet facilities.

Akinseloyin observed that lots of people are discouraged from using the public toilet because they fear for their safety. This he said has contributed to the practice of open defecation among over 47 million Nigerians.

“in commemorating the 2020 World Toilet Day, we decided to take over the cleaning and management of few toilet facilities i.e Berger, Arena market in Oshodi and Trade fair, all in Lagos state for the first phase of our programme. We shall be deploying our resources including the Hypo toilet cleaner to keep the toilet sparkling, attractive and germs free. By so doing, people who make use of the facilities can have a positive view of public toilet and develop a taste for using it when there is a need for it.”

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Speaking on the theme of the Day,” Sustainable Sanitation and Climate Change, Akinseloyin maintained that Hypo sought to connect the theme with customers by ensuring that they have access to a proper toilet facility. “Talking about sustainable development globally, there have always been issues around water but here in Nigeria, we are faced with the challenge of open defecation.

“Hypo is committed to driving behavioural change to bridge the infrastructure gap, ensure more public toilets facilities in households and support Federal government to end open defecation by 2025”.
Mrs Sola Hassan, Director, Public Health Education, Lagos State Ministry of Health, commended Hypo’s effort for collaborating with government to end open defecation.

“Lagos state government has been building public toilets facilities across the state to quell open defecation and so I can boldly say that that the figure is reducing in Lagos state. Hypo has been quite supportive though several initiatives that have paid off.

“The theme for this year’s World Toilet Day has a lot of importance to environmental and personal hygiene which also aligns with COVID-19 safety campaign. Even presently that some parts of the country is faced with the scourge of Yellow Fever, the place of environmental and personal hygiene cannot be ruled out.”

Also speaking, Head, Supervisor, Ojodu Berger Toilet, Adenike Adebayo, expressed appreciation to Hypo for the collaboration and promised to always maintain the standard of hygiene to ensure public safety.