By Akinnodi Francis

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The Ondo State Government has reassured residents on its commitment to intensify efforts to provide water and sanitation at all levels, as a measure of promoting the total well being of its citizens.
Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Mrs.Yetunde Adeyanju stated this in Akure.
She said the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led-administration has demonstrated the political will in curbing poor sanitation across the state, stressing that it is the responsibility of the state government to provide healthy living condition.
Adeyanju said there is need for a more private sector investment and participation in the sector to promote sustained sanitation and hygiene services delivery across the nation especially in Ondo State.
The commissioner stressed that access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities has been a significant challenge for many people around the world adding that disparities occur in the access to sanitation facilities across wealth quin-tiles, geographical locations and among vulnerable groups.
She charged Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN) Ondo State Chapter EHOAN to be committed in sanitizing the state with a view to make Ondo State best cleared state among committee of states in Nigeria.
In her remark, EHOAN President, Mrs. Funmi Akintade said that ensuring proper sanitation and hygiene often aids the fight against diseases and child mortality rate adding that Nigeria still bears a bigger portion of disease burden and child mortality rate.
She said, “The clean Ondo State campaign remain the association’s target aims to increase awareness on the importance of promoting hygiene across Nigeria.
“Achieving proper hygiene requires the efforts of everyone, through the use of toilets, provision of water and sanitation facilities, in homes and all public places”, she said.
Also, Acting Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Wole Adeboyegun said that the importance of promoting handwashing activities in homes, schools and public places cannot be overemphasized as it has been identified as the most effective way to prevent communicable diseases, especially among children.
“We laud the government of Nigeria as shown by the declaration of a state of emergency to end open defecation by 2025 but there is more to be done.