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The National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) says improvement of access to sanitation needs collaborative effort as it impacts on public health.
Access ratios to adequate sanitation are still low at 44% in rural areas and 60.7% in urban and peri urban areas.
Speaking ahead of World Toilet Day that falls on 19th November, NWASCO Director Kelvin Chitumbo says this year’s theme of “sanitation and nutrition” is a clarion call for all to take action as outbreak of disease as a result of inadequate sanitation affects everyone.
Mr. Chitumbo says the NWASCO statistics show that out of a population of about 6,122,284 in urban and peri urban areas, only 3, 716, 486 people have access to adequate sanitation services in the urban and peri urban areas.
Mr. Chitumbo says it has become clear that there are effects of inadequate water supply and sanitation services on the nutritional status of children.
He says research shows evidence that children who live without adequate sanitation, hygiene, and clean drinking water don’t grow as well as children who do.
Mr. Chitumbo notes that there is need to scale up interventions and improve access to sanitation if Zambia is to meet its vision 2030 goal target of 100% access to safe drinking water and 90% basic sanitation.
And Minister of Local Government and Housing Steven Kampyongo says government remains committed in ensuring that it provides quality toilets in public places.
Mr. Kampyongo has also encouraged Zambians to ensure that they have improved toilets so as to reduce diseases such as diarrhea.
Meanwhile, Chief Mukobela of the Ila Speaking people in Namwala District has called on the Church to help interpret what the Bible says on matters of sanitation and cleanliness.
Chief Mukobela, whose chiefdom was declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) in 2013, says there is need for the church to come on board and help promote sanitation matters.
World Toilet Day is a global day to raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis.
It is commemorated on November 19th each year, to bring awareness of access to adequate sanitation.
In Zambia, this year’s commemoration in Lusaka will be held in George Compound.