The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) has concluded a three-day facilitators' training in Kuyizhi Community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the 53 facilitators were taught the importance of maintaining a healthy and clean environment and the negative impact of unhygienic environment.Centre LSD is an indigenous NGO funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to enlighten local communities in the FCT on issues of sanitation and hygiene through community-led participation.The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Centre, Mr Monday Osasah, said that the facilitators had trained 400 members of the community.He said the training was organised to create awareness and sensitise the people on the need for a healthy environment.He expressed satisfaction with the community's response, adding that the training had engendered positive change on the sanitary behaviour of the community.``The essence of the community-led total sanitation is to advocate for community participation in sanitation and waste management, by ensuring adequate representation of women.'I am satisfied with the result of the training because prior to it, only one house had toilet facility in the community.'But at the end of the three-day training, over seven houses had complied with what they were taught by digging their own pit latrines,' Osasah said.Mr Nuhu Abu, one of the beneficiaries, said that members of the community benefitted from the training.``The training has changed our behaviour towards open defecation and personal hygiene.' Before now, we were like blind men, but the training opened our eyes to do the right things like washing our hands after using the toilet and before we eat,' Abu said.Another beneficiary, Mrs Rebecca Ayuba, said she was now aware of the significance of a clean environment and the consequences of open defecation.'I have learnt that passing excreta openly in bushes and around the house is dangerous to our health,'' she said.It was learnt that during the training, a Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM) was set up to monitor and ensure continuity in the attitude of the people towards sanitation.Mr Ayuba Tanko, the Chairman of the committee, said he would ensure that the community attained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by placing a fine on defaulters.'I will ensure that the people of this community would not forget what had been taught and a fine of N500 will be placed on defaulters.'And every household will be made to build their own toilets before the end of November 2011,' Tanko promised.The chief of the community, Mr Irimiya Ayuta, expressed gratitude to the centre, adding that the knowledge imparted in his people would be sustained.
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