By Abasi ItaÂ
Public health stakeholders have raised fresh concerns over the dangers of open defecation in Cross River State as the House of Assembly considers a bill seeking to outlaw the practice.
The concerns were expressed during a public hearing on the proposed Open Defecation Prohibition Bill held at the mini hall of the Cross River State House of Assembly in Calabar. Participants drawn from government agencies, civil society organisations and development partners warned that open defecation continues to threaten public health, contaminate water sources and undermine human dignity.
Speakers noted that the practice remains prevalent in ravines, uncompleted buildings, drainage channels and open spaces across the state, contributing to the spread of preventable diseases and environmental degradation.
Data presented at the hearing indicated that about 41 per cent of the population in Cross River State still practices open defecation. The figures also revealed significant gaps in access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, with only eight per cent of schools, 0.4 per cent of health facilities and six per cent of public places having basic sanitation services.
The proposed legislation seeks to provide a legal framework for enforcing sanitation standards, strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene policies, and accelerate efforts to eliminate open defecation in the state by 2030.
Speaking at the hearing, Ferdinand Anok of Self Help Africa stressed the urgency of passing the bill, noting that the state is lagging behind national and global sanitation targets linked to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the passage of the bill would improve public health outcomes, enhance accountability and position Cross River State as a leader in the fight against open defecation.