Dimapur, June 7 (EMN): A programme seeking to spread awareness about the effects of open defecation on the environment was conducted at United Christian Higher Secondary School in Naginimora on June 5.
The event was sponsored by the SBM through Urban Development department.
The vice principal of the Government Higher Secondary School, Sobungtula Aier delivered a speech. She talked about open defection and its impact on environment. She defined open defecation as practice in which people go to fields, forest or open spaces to defecate.
The World Health Organisation had declared the year 2008 as ‘International Year of Sanitation’ and it was here the term ‘open defection’ began to be widely published, she said.
Further, the United Nations also brought the world’s attention to the issue of open defecation for the first time by observing ‘World Toilet Day’ on November 19, 2013. She apprised the gathering about the United Nations’ pledge to eliminate open defecation from the globe before 2025.
Lamenting the lack of toilets as one of the leading causes of illness and deaths among children and adults, Sobungtula Aier told the gathering that the elimination of the practice of open defecation to be an important aspect of development. She maintained that open defecation leads to the spread of harmful diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid. It has further impact on the environment specifically on water, soil and air pollution.
Aier urged the community to shoulder the responsibility to work and create awareness among the people to stop the practice of open defecation.
A painting competition besides a plantation program and a mass cleaning work on the area were also undertaken as part of the event. In the painting competition, Chingyong, class-x student, emerged the winner. Pangloi and Henkao won the second and third prize respectively.
