Compact on Water and Sanitation will exert effort to curb spread of preventable disease

The signing of the Compact on Water and Sanitation by President Salva Kiir on Monday is a game changer that will lead to improved access to safe water and a health environment.

This comes as access to basic water supply in South Sudan has fallen from 41 percent in 2010 to 39 percent in 2020.

In addition, access to adequate sanitation rose from 7 percent to 14 percent in the same period, while open defecation fell slightly from 71 percent to 63 percent.

Open defecation remains a major threat to health starting from the capital Juba, and other major towns in the country.

Access to pit latrines remains low in the country as majority of people prefer to help themselves in nearby bushes or along dimly lit streets.

The main focus of the Compact is to reduce rampant open defecation by 2030. This is spot on because everywhere you go in Juba and other towns in South Sudan, one breathes contaminated air due to open defecation.

We commend the government, UNICEF and other partners for realizing this milestone that will not only improve access to safe water, but also prevent waterborne diseases such as cholera.