In
order to help stop this habit, Harpic in Collaboration with UNIC(United Nations
Information Centre) with the support of some government ministries celebrated
the World Toilet Day by propagating the need to maintain proper toilet hygiene
linking the idea to the world wide theme on Sanitation and Nutrition which was celebrated Worldwide on November 19,
2015.
There
was a walk through the Idi-Araba area in Mushin Local
Government to create awareness for proper toilet hygiene.After the walk, there was
enlightenment on how to maintain clean toilet.
For the citizens and invited guest who
converged at Idi-Araba Community School, it was a day to join force to address
negative habit of open defecation and Harpic made donation of two mobile
toilets to the Idi-Araba community.
RB’s
Marketing Director, West Africa, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili who spoke at the
Idi-Araba Community and Idi-Araba School Complex, Mushin, Lagos – venue of the
event - said the enlightenment becomes necessary because open defecation has a
ripple effect to the larger society as it affects the healthy living conditions
resulting in increased Child Mortality, Cholera, Diahoerria in addition to its
considerable social costs which include loss of dignity or risk of physical
attack and sexual abuse. As a result, Nigeria Loses N455bln annually which is
1.3% of the Nigeria’s GDP to poor sanitation and hygiene which increases the
risk of disease and malnutrition.
Message from
the United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Ban Ki Moon was delivered by the UNIC
Director, Mr. Ronald Kayanja while a brief pictorial presentation of the
Sustainable Development Goals in relation to sanitation/WTD was equally
presented.
This day is
significant to generate more awareness that open defecation not only has higher
costs than any other sanitation practice, it has considerable adverse social
impacts. Harpic has undertaken to create proactive awareness on sanitation
anchored on the World Toilet Day.
RB’s Vision
for Nigeria is where people are healthier and live better and RB will continue
on making difference by giving Nigerians innovative solutions for healthier
lives and happier homes. Harpic, one of RB’s power brands has consistently put
on the front burner the importance of having access to clean toilet and the
potential health implications as well as the vulnerability it poses, especially
to Women and Children.
