THE Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Lokoja and Idah dioceses of Catholic Church of Kogi State on Wednesday said at least 71 per cent of the people of the state engage in open defecation.
The organisation also raised the alarm over shortage in water provision to the people, noting that the development had been affecting the health of the people.
The JDPC stated this in a research report on the assessment of the challenges of water, sanitation and hygiene in selected communities of Kogi State, presented to mark the 2017 world water day celebration.
Presenting a review of the report carried out in 15 communities of the three senatorial districts of the state, Femi Olaitan, said the practice of opened defecation had led to increase in demand of public toilets.
According to him, the research discovered that 52 percent of the people depend on well water, 24 percent on borehole, while only four percent depend on tap water.
It said the ranking of the main source of drinking water by household showed that 29 per cent rely on rain water, 20 per cent depend on deep well water, 18 per cent on borehole, while 17 per cent relied on sachet water and nine percent confirmed pipe borne water as their main source of drinking.
The report added that the situation had bearing with high incidences of water borne diseases like dysentery, diarrhoea and typhoid fever.
The member representing Ankpa state constituency 1, Ahmad Mohammed, said he had been making concerted efforts to make water available to the people in his area.
Mohammed, who was recognised by the JDPC for his role on water provision, said no fewer than 19 communities had benefited in the intervention on water provision.
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