At least 76% villagers still practice open defecation

By Tracy Tafirenyika

ACCESS to improved sanitation is a basic human right, yet in Namibia 76 percent of the population in the rural areas still practice open defecation, whereas in the urban areas its 20 percent, presenting serious public health concerns.

According to the recently launched United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) report on Situation Analysis of Children in Namibia, the report detailed that more than 10 percent of Namibians were using untreated surface water that, combined with high growing rates of open defecation, present very serious public health concerns.