Open defecation has been declared an insecurity in Acholi sub region by the health professionals in the region.
Open defecation is the practice of human beings relieving themselves outdoors (in bushes, fields, forests, bodies of water, or open spaces) rather than using a toilet.
It is a massive environmental hazard that contaminates surroundings, spreads fatal diseases, causes malnutrition, and strips individuals of basic human dignity.
Dr Maurice Okao, the medical director for Kalongo hospital notes that as Acholi sub region we are failing to manage open defecation yet it is already an insecurity.
Dr Okao says when one travels to the villages in Acholi, the situation is alarming because most homes still don’t have places of convenience but use the bushes, business points have no places for easing themselves and even within Gulu city there is still open defecation.
Dr Okao requests for a better approach to open defecation in Acholi otherwise people will never learn that it is bad and will continue suffering its consequences.
Meanwhile Geoffrey Osborne Ochieng, the Resident District Commissioner for Amuru committed to immediately embark on community barazas and use of his radio slots to tackle open defecation in the region.
Atleast one million households in Acholi do not have proper latrines, the 2022/23 joint annual health performance report for Acholi sub region states that of the 1,330,113 households, only 270,894 households had proper toilets.
By Becky Ekwanu
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