Uasin Gishu Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii Chelilim has urged residents to embrace and maintain hygienic practices through proper use of toilets, practicing handwashing, in order to fill the 0.5 percent remaining gap as the county has achieved 99.5 percent latrine coverage.
He was speaking during the World Toilet Day with the theme, “Toilet: A Place for Peace,” at Langas, Kapseret Sub County, Uasin Gishu.
Noting that sanitation is a shared responsibility, Dr. Chelilim indicated that the day is an important cause, reflecting on the milestones achieved in sanitation as recognized on the United Nations calendar.
“As a county, we are proud of the achievements made this far. Our latrine coverage stands at an impressive 99.5 percent, with a shortfall of just 0.5 percent, representing approximately 1,000 households’ still practicing open defecation,” alluded Dr. Bii.
“Together, we can eliminate the remaining 0.5 percent gap and achieve 100 percent latrine coverage in our county,” he added.
He mentioned that the day provides an opportunity to assess progress as a nation and as a county on this vital subject: access to proper sanitation and its critical role in improving health and well-being of all humans.
Globally, the statistics indicate that 3.5 billion people still live without safely managed sanitation, including 419 million individuals who practice open defecation. These figures underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to address this challenge.
The county boss underscored the essential benefits toilets bring to both urban and rural communities in promoting dignity, safety, and good health, while reducing conflict and improving quality of life.
He lauded deliberate efforts Kenya has made in improving sanitation and hygiene particularly in urban areas, which have seen notable progress in reducing open defecation rates.
The county has made remarkable achievements in terms of hygiene and sanitation which translate directly into improved public health. This has seen Diarrhea cases significantly being reduced, thanks to the persistent health messaging delivered by our County Health Promoters and Public Health Officers.
Additionally, there has been a 13 percent reduction in waterborne disease cases, dropping from 29 percent to 16 percent in the county, a clear indication of the impact of the interventions.
Chelilim mentioned that hospitals also play a key role in linking patients with water-related illnesses, such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid, to Public Health Officers and Community Health Promoters.
This has continued to ensure that prevention measures reach the most vulnerable households.
He affirmed his administration’s commitment through collaborative efforts with partners, to continue to improve sanitation infrastructure.
The governor added that they are constructing additional modern toilets, which will significantly benefit residents upon completion, as part of the slum upgrade program.
He commended the work done by the Public Health staff and Community Health Promoters for being at the forefront in sensitizing the community about the importance of toilet use in enhancing overall health especially on the ongoing community awareness campaigns which have empowered families to adopt hygienic practices, such as proper waste disposal and regular handwashing.
Chelilim emphasized the need to explore innovative technologies, such as ecological sanitation systems, and strengthen policies and regulations to sustain sanitation initiatives.
These measures will address hygiene standards and waste management challenges in both urban and rural settings.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
