BY MANUEL ODENY
Reckitt, a multi-national hygiene industrial firm join other stakeholders and the Kenyan government to mark the 2024 World Toilet Day in Migori county.
The day was marked at Rokere Primary School in Kuria West Sub County-Migori
Through the leading brands Harpic and Dettol, the company joined the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the County Government of Migori has vowed to work towards making the county an open defecation-free zone.
The Regulatory Affairs Manager Reckitt Dr. James Mokoro urged the members of the public to embrace cleanliness of the toilets as the first step in prevention the of communicable diseases.
Mokoro explained that World Toilet Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of hygiene in our daily lives and its role in fostering peace, health, and dignity.
“Toilet is, indeed, a place of peace, a sanctuary where we seek cleanliness as well as a symbol of respect for ourselves and for others that is why we lead in giving Kenyans brands to make this possible,” he said..
He disclosed that Reckitt Company is driven to help elevate toilet hygiene for better health and safety for everyone, everywhere to contribute to this peace by ensuring that our toilets are clean, safe, and hygienic.
Head of Environment Health and Sanitation—State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards, Antony Wainaina, said they want to ensure that every homestead in the country has at least a toilet, as a move towards curbing communicable diseases.
“Most communicable diseases are found in third-world countries because of less toilet coverage which results in diseases like cholera,” he said..
Poor sanitation has been linked to transmission of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections and polio.
According to Migori County statistics, the county has latrine coverage of 92 percent and 100 percent hand washing facilities where 94 percent of households are either connected or use treated water.
The county is currently an open defecation-free (ODF) zone with close to 100 percent village’s access to basic sanitation with only 8 percent shared basic sanitation.
Migori Deputy Governor Joseph Mahiri confirmed the county’s commitment towards attaining 92 percent of homesteads with toilets.
Mahiri said that the current state of the county’s open defecation-free (ODF) zone with close to 100 percent villages’ access to basic sanitation shows how the county has made bold steps to provide better hygiene to residents.
He said that the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) which started in 2014 with 46 percent of toilet cover has made positive strides to improve basic sanitation in every village, a true reflection of the current 92 percent toilet cover in 2024
Mahiri however, called upon more partnerships to make the county achieve the 100 percent toilet coverage to promote more hygienic status.
