JPDC raises concern over open defecation in Kogi

The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Lokoja and Idah dioceses of Catholic Church of Kogi has expressed concern over high incidence of people engaging in open defecation across communities in the state.

JDPC, in a report on the assessment of the challenges of water, sanitation and hygiene in 15 selected communities of the state, indicated that at least 70 percent of the people engage in open defecation.

Presenting a review of the report on communities  across the three senatorial districts of the state, a JPDC official, Femi Olaitan, said  open defecation had led to increase in demand of public toilets.

 According to him, the research discovered that 52 percent of the people depended on well water, 24 percent on boreholes, while only four percent depended on tap water.

It said the ranking of the main source of drinking water by household showed that 29 percent relied on rain water; 20 percent on deep well water; 18 percent on boreholes; while 17 percent relied on sachet water; and nine percent confirmed pipe-borne water as their main source of drinking.