More
than 1 million people in The Gambia lack access to basic sanitation, the
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Saffie Lowe-Ceesay, has said.
She
said the new government of The Gambia has recognised the importance of
sanitation and therefore gives it a priority in the recently completed National
Development Plans.
The
minister made this statement while presiding over an ‘open defecation free’
ceremony held at Kaiaf village in Kiang East District recently.
The
theme of the event was ‘Improved sanitation and hygiene is our pride’ and it
was graced by senior government and regional officials, district chiefs, and
Akalolou.
The
open defecation free campaign is being implemented by The Gambia government and
supported by UNICEF. The aim of the
campaign is to free Gambia of open defecation by November 2017.
Kiang
East is the first district in The Gambia to declared free of open
defecation.
Minister
Lowe-Ceesay commended UNICEF for its effort in supporting The Gambia in the
campaign, saying the country is now part of the global map for sanitation and
the progress registered would have not been possible without the support of the
UN agency.
The
governor of Lower River Region, Fanta Bonjang Samateh Manneh said sanitation is
dignity and that is why the government wants to end open defecation by November
2017 throughout The Gambia.
She
called on her entire region to work towards the elimination of open defecation.
The
country representative of UNICEF congratulated Kiang Kaiaf for being the first
district among the 35 districts in The Gambia to be declared free of open
defecation.
She
said UNICEF had appreciated the partnership from the people of The Gambia and
therefore she congratulated the Gambians for making sure their environment is
clean at all time.
According
to her, The Gambia is going to be the first country to be declared open
defecation free in West Africa, and assured the stakeholders of UNICEF’s
continued partnership with The Gambia.
