By Tolit Ivan
The Japanese government through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations Migration Agency, established in 1951 to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all is set to construct a modern sanitary facility in Elegu Town Council, Amuru District in a bid to end open defection blamed for the persistent outbreaks of hygiene related illnesses.
The development comes at a time when the border town is grappling with an outbreak of cholera which has so far killed eight people and infected 252 others.
The border town, located between Uganda and South Sudan, with a population of over 23,000, is surviving on only five public toilets amidst low pit latrine.
Speaking during the cross border meeting at Churchill Courts Hotel in Gulu City Chicho Miyake, the IOM Programs Coordinator, said the project is intended to put to an end hygiene related illnesses and have a healthy population.
Public Health Experts in the Acholi Sub region have attributed the surge in diarrheal disease to open defecation and poor garbage management which ends up in the community water sources thus contaminating it hence water borne disease.
A recent report released during Acholi Regional Health Assembly puts latrine coverage in the sub region at just 49% implying that 51% of the over 2 million still practice open defecation.
To deal with poor sanitation, the government must implement hygiene education, promote handwashing, ensure access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities, and manage waste effectively.
