The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), said it is partnering with the Federal Government in tackling open defecation in the country.
Geoffrey Njoku, UNICEF Communication Specialist, said the theme of the workshop is “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign.”
Njoku said Nigeria was ranked second among countries that practice open defecation in the world after India and, also ranked first among the countries practising open defecation in Africa.
The UNICEF communication specialist said that the purpose of the workshop was to engage the media in the campaign against open defecation to put an end to it.
He added that the media dialogue also aimed at creating awareness about clean Nigeria and mobilise resources to sustain the National movement.
He said the workshop would engender behavioural change and policy reform through advocacy and awareness to encourage government to invest more resources in the environment.
Olumide Osanyipeju, Head, Child Rights Information Bureau, Federal Ministry of Information, Abuja, said UNICEF had been in the forefront of ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe drinking water supply, adequate and proper hygiene in their communities.
Osanyipeju, said that open defecation perpetuates a vicious of disease and poverty, said the Federal Government had declared a state of emergency in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene towards ending open defecation.
He urged the media to assist government in sensitising Nigerians on the danger of open defecation.
(NAN)