Public Health At Risk As Open Defecation Persists In Cross River — Stakeholders
Stakeholders Raise Public Health Concerns Over Open Defecation in Cross River
STAKEHOLDERS in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector have raised fresh concerns over the continued practice of open defecation in Cross River State, warning that it poses serious public health risks, contaminates water sources and erodes human dignity.
The concerns were expressed during a public hearing on the proposed Open Defecation Prohibition Bill, held at the mini hall of the Cross River State House of Assembly, where participants urged lawmakers to move swiftly towards enacting enforceable sanitation legislation.
Threats to Public Health and Environment
Speakers at the hearing identified open defecation—commonly carried out in ravines, uncompleted buildings and drainage channels—as a major contributor to environmental pollution and the spread of waterborne diseases.
According to stakeholders, human waste deposited in open spaces often finds its way into streams and groundwater, particularly during rainfall, putting entire communities at risk of infections such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoeal diseases.
They noted that the practice disproportionately affects children, women and persons living in densely populated or low-income areas, further deepening public health and social inequalities.
Alarming Statistics on Sanitation Access
Data presented at the hearing painted a grim picture of sanitation access in the state. About 41 per cent of Cross River’s population was reported to still engage in open defecation, despite national and global efforts to eliminate the practice.
The statistics also revealed severe gaps in access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services. Only eight per cent of schools in the state reportedly have basic WASH facilities, while just 0.4 per cent of healthcare facilities and six per cent of public places are adequately equipped.
Stakeholders warned that the absence of sanitation infrastructure in schools and health centres undermines hygiene education and infection control efforts.
Proposed Bill and Expected Impact
The proposed Open Defecation Prohibition Bill seeks to establish a legal framework for enforcing sanitation standards, strengthen existing WASH policies and accelerate efforts to end open defecation in Cross River State by 2030.
Supporters of the bill said its passage would introduce accountability mechanisms, improve resource mobilisation and provide clear guidelines for sanitation compliance at community and institutional levels.
They added that the legislation would help protect public water sources, reduce disease outbreaks and restore dignity to residents.
Calls for Urgent Legislative Action
Speaking at the hearing, Ferdinand Anok, a representative of Self Help Africa, stressed the urgency of passing the bill, noting that Cross River still faces significant gaps in meeting sanitation-related Sustainable Development Goals.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that, if enacted, the bill would position Cross River as a model for other states seeking to tackle open defecation. They added that the public hearing itself signalled growing political will to address longstanding sanitation challenges and improve hygiene standards across the state.
