Incidence of sanitation-related diseases rose from 27 per cent in 2018 to 39 per cent in 2023 in Nigeria, a STONE Pro-Max 2023 reported.
This was contained in the report of project circus review period (2018–2023) tagged STONE Pro-Max 2023 signed by Prince Ene Baba Owoh, Jr, the National Co-ordinator/Secretary of National Technical Study Group (NTSG).
‘The incidence and prevalence of sanitation related diseases has increased by Twenty Seven (27%) per cent in 2018 to thirty nine (39%) per cent in 2023,’’ the report stated.
The report further stated that ‘‘Inadequate sanitation/hygiene practices of the people in thirty two (32) states and the FCT still leaves much to be desired and calls for multiple strategies by all stakeholders. Our studies show 46% in 2018 – 32% 2023.’’
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According to it, ‘‘In the past six years – 6% improvement was recorded in the procurement of waste management equipment by some governments in the country from 2018 – 2023, however, there was a significant drop in waste management equipment as most equipment previously on ground became unserviceable.
‘‘Funding by States/Local Government Councils for waste management services has reduced drastically based on the value of the naira presently when compared to the increase services offered. This equally calls for serious incremental review on the part of governments at all levels to help confront the challenges of ensuring a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.
‘‘Improvement of the health of sanitation workers employed both by government and private sectors to provide waste management services fell from 46% in 2018 to 31% in 2023.
‘‘The informal sector operators of waste recycling and reuse enterprises recorded lower patronage, and suffered more setbacks as their activities reduced from 30% in 2018 to 26% in 2023.’’
It, therefore, recommended ‘‘Government at all levels, individuals and communities, as a matter of urgency, are encouraged in their best interest to step up their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of hygiene and sanitation to improve their living conditions in order to increase their average life expectancy in Nigeria.
‘‘Let’s note that in 2018 Life expectancy in Nigeria was 44 years and presently it has dropped to 40 years due to multiple factors.
‘‘Funding allocated for sanitation and waste management should be stepped up by at least 200% by States/Local Government Councils based on the present value of the naira while corporate organizations should include support on sanitation and waste management facilities in their Corporate Social Responsibility for states and Local Council areas in the Country.’’
‘‘Employers of labour should improve the living condition and wages of sanitation workers; in view of the unsanitary conditions that they are exposed to, they should be equipped with (PPE) personal protection equipment and given proper Medicare. In 2018, sanitation workers living condition stood at 22%, and 26% in 2023.’’
The report, therefore, called on Nigerians, among other things, to embrace strong personal hygiene and good sanitation habits and to dispose of their waste at the right places.
