Hepatitis E remains a problem

According to deputy minister of health and social services, Esther Muinjangue, more than half of Namibia's population defecates in the open, which has negative effects on public health, especially for children and pregnant women.

Muinjangue spoke on the occasion of the first commemoration of World Toilet Day in Namibia, which was introduced by the World Toilet Organisation in 2002 and officially recognised by the United Nations in 2013.

Since December 2017, a total of 6 517 cases of Hepatitis E have been reported in Namibia, with 55 people having died since the outbreak began. According to Muinjangue, poor hygiene practices are among the main causes of this and many other diseases.

Erongo governor Neville Andre-Itope emphasised the need for joint efforts to provide sanitation facilities and hygiene for all Namibians. "Let us invest in infrastructure and sanitation facilities and continue to advocate for hygiene education to ensure universal access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation," he said.