Question

how health benefits of eradicating open defecation

Answer 1

Open defecation is a practice where people pass faeces in the open like in fields, canals, bushes, forests, water bodies, roadside etc. They do not use the toilets due to reasons like non-availability of toilets or due to the narrow mindset of the people.

This open defecation is a very unhygienic and unsanitised practice which can cause many diseases like diarrhoea, infections, typhoid, fever, cholera, trachoma, hepatitis, etc. It has also caused malnutrition and caused deaths of many children.

Also, defecation in water bodies makes the water unsuitable for use and causes water-borne diseases.

There are public toilets built everywhere and it is important to have a toilet at home with a proper drainage system to prevent such diseases. Also, the hygiene and sanitation will be improved when a proper toilet is used. This follows the saying of 'Cleanliness is equal to Godliness."