Global MDG target for sanitation not met, why are many countries unable to meet the target?

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The global MDG target for sanitation has been missed for 700 million people. The map show the countries that have achieved it. What about those that have not? What are the major challenges and constraints in achieving the targets?

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  2. Water supply is central to good sanitation in urban areas. Public toilets especially institutions are not usable because there is no water. In the rural area, availability of open free bushy landscape and tame enforcement of "no ODF" policy, coupled with absence of public toilet facilities make ODF the best option. Community policing and public reprimand for offenders could suffice in the rural areas. I am more bothered about lack of clean toilets in our public places in the fledgling urban cities. It is worrisome when you know your child will not use a clean toilet in school or that if you are pressed in the market place, you might have to poo in your pants. I think provision of public toilets in the urban cities should be consciously privatized.

  3. Indeed a lot of effort has been made in the area of sanitation in Nigeria and just like many reports suggest a lot still needs to be done mostly in the area of behaviour change. Although cost may be one of the reasons for low latrine uptake in the rural areas, there are yet many other factors responsible for this slow pace to achieving the sanitation for all goal, some of these factors are mind-blowing but yet cogent reasons. 1. Myths and Customs: Some communities I have worked-in in Nigeria believe that when you defecate in a house (referring to the latrine/toilet building) you become very poor. In other words open defecation is seen in the community as a path to becoming rich. I keep wondering how this perception can ever be changed. Some say they cannot defecate in the same house that they inhabit since it is an abomination to do that. 2. This practice may also not end because in some other communities especially where the female folks are restricted, going to the bush or open land to defecate provides an opportunity for the females to get to meet their men folks who seldom see them as a result of the restriction. 3. There is also the aspect of politicization of the ODF (Open Defecation Free) status of communities as some organisations working in the WASH sector who have adopted the CLTS approach set unrealistic targets to achieve within limited time frames. This ultimately leads to falsification of figures and rash judgements regarding the statuses of communities. 4. Lack of follow up after ODF certification of communities is yet another reason as my work in the rural areas suggests. Some communities where their status had been ODF over time revert back to the OD status when the heat cools down. In other words they opted to make their community ODF just to be included amongst those in similar categories as a mark of prestige.

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