CEBU, Philippines — The City Health Department has intensified its zero-open defecation program in time for the World Toilet Day today, Nov.19, in Cogon Ramos, Cebu City.
It is noted that 3.6 billion people around the world are still living with poor-quality toilets that ruin their health and pollute their environment.
Inadequate sanitation systems spread human waste into rivers, lakes, and soil, contaminating the water resources under our feet.
Safely managed sanitation protects groundwater from human waste pollution.
With this, everyone must have access to a toilet connected to a sanitation system that effectively removes and treats human waste.
In Cebu City, as reported earlier, only Cogon Ramos, out of the 80 barangays in Cebu City, was able to achieve zero open defecation back in 2017.
With this, Cogon Ramos will be given recognition for achieving zero open defecation.
Launching the program in the said barangay is also expected to inspire other barangays to duplicate such program.
“Kani nga programa atong i-identify ang mga barangay nga asa na sila dapita sa pagtan-aw sa ilang mga lumolupyo kung naa ba’y saktong pansayan,” Dr. Sergio Zelig Javier of the CHD said thru the city’s PIO.
Together with the CHD is the Department of Health no less this year’s WTD carries the theme, “Ämpingan Ang Panglawas, Sanitasyon Dili Pasipad-an.”
“Kaning Zero-Open Defecation usa ni sa kalihokan sa atoang DOH nga pagtagad sa sanitation sa atoang lugar,” said Javier.
With this program, all barangays will have communal and avoid several diseases and keep the area clean and sanitary.
“Importante gyud kada balay, kada household, kada pamilya naa’y kasilyas. Kung dili man gani available, naa sa iyang kaugalingon at least naa’y dapit asa mangasilyas og tarong ang mga tawo,” added Javier. — GMR (FREEMAN)