Charles Ekanem|12 June 2016|6:40am
Recently, at a ceremony to mark a very great achievement of End-Open-Defecation (ODF) in Abi LGA, graced by the Honourable Commissioner for International Donor Corporation, Hon. Frank Ettah, and the paramount ruler of Abi Edward Osim as well as other chiefs and partners, the Director General Dr. Betta Edu and management team of Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, congratulated the people of Abi for rising up to the challenge to End-Open-Defecation in Abi. She said as a proud daughter of Abi she can boldly say we have almost zero percent Open Defecation in Abi.
She further noted that Adadama did her and the Speaker Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo proud by ranking high in the ODF assessment proving that charity is indeed begining at home. She thanked RUWASA, UNICEF and other partners for all the effort, noting that this ODF achievement will save the children of Abi LGA as well as others from coming down with several water borne dieases like Diarrhoea and Cholera especially as the rains are begining to pour.
She further discussed some basic health tips that will help everyone using a closed pit latrine in the LGA "please always use ash to cover the faeces after stooling into the pit latrines. The ash will prevent odour as well as prevent flies from carrying contaminants from faeces to food and drinking water. Most importantly, please always wash your hands properly. It will exempt you from many common illnesses like Diarrhoea, it will reducing time wastage, hospital visits and money spent seeking health care".
A representative of UNICEF thanked the people of Abi and the government for the role played. Promising to continue to support the government in child health.
A member of the community present who was interviewed said the use of community champions in the various communities made a world of difference. He noted that this young men and women encouraged others in their own little way to shun open defecation and use more acceptable ways of faeces disposal. High point was presentations of award to various deserving communities and individuals.
Charles Ekanem
Is the media aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
