A PANEL of sanitation and health experts declared barangay Sillon in Bantayan island “zero-open defecation” or ZOD despite the lack of household toilets.
After typhoon Yolanda in November 2013, several disaster response teams focused on sanitation.
Islamic Relief Worldwide Philippines (IRW), in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), has been helping Bantayan Island achieve ZOD status using an approach jointly developed by the Department of Health , NGOs and partners.
In July 12, 2015, barangay Sillon achieved this goal, the IRW said in a statement.
Syed Shahnawaz, Islamic Relief’s head of mission for the Philippines, said this is proof of a community’s willingness to improve the quality of their lives through proper sanitation practices.
“More than just toilet construction, the approach involves changing the way people think about sanitation. Previously, people thought that open defecation was not a problem but they realized the serious health risks these practices carry,” he said.
Almost half of the 996 households of barangay Sillon lack toilets.
“A barangay is declared ZOD if no one defecates in public spaces anymore. Either they build their toilets or share toilets with their relatives. They should also practice hand washing after toilet use,” said the statement.
In a 2014 survey conducted by Unicef after Yolanda, 17.3 percent of households in their project areas ( Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Bantayan in Cebu, Capiz and Iloilo) were practicing open defecation in public places.
Cebu had the highest rate at 42.3 percent.
The most common reason given by households was that they had no toilets.