Post: 45 percent of Turkana residents engage in open defecation

At least 45 percent of Turkana County residents are still practicing open defecation.According to the County Public Health Officer Innocent Sifuna, only 55 percent of the county is open defecation free.'We are currently standing at 55% ODF status. In the past, such efforts boosted the journey towards increasing the number of ODF villages; we are confident that this donation will contribute to the efforts,' said Sifuna.He was speaking when the County Government received donations of tools to assist the community in latrines construction across County.The donation was issued to the County through Caritas Lodwar, an implementing partner of the USAID NAWIRI program.The equipment, whose approximate value is Sh3.1 million, included spades, jembes, pickaxes, mattocks, crossbars, mason hammers, rakes, and 3000 (20-liter capacity) Jerry cans.He added that such donations further empowered the county to increase the number of Open Defecation-Free (ODF) villages.Caritas Lodwar's Director Father Dennis Ochi eng added that the collaboration would assist the county in increasing latrine coverage, reducing disease burden, and combat persistent acute malnutrition.On his part, Eng. James Nachule - Wash Project Manager of USAID Nawiri, added that the donation was accompanied by a distribution list to cover 35 community units spread across the seven sub-counties.County WASH coordinator, Reuben Kibiego and Public Health Officer Elphas Mayo were also present.Source: Kenya News Agency