Open Defacation: Primitive Culture

Open Defacation: Primitive Culture
By: Jousairi Hasbullah

Open defecation is the people'traditional habit of defecating outside, in the open environment, rather than using a toilet. They have no toilet even for some, still no need toilet.

SDGs goal 6 mentions priority for clean water and sanitation. It requires all people access to sanitation and hygiene, and ending to open defecation. What is open defacation? That is when people defecate with no toilet, in the open such as in the bushes, rivers, in the fields, forest related.

Based on the goals mentioned, UN and member countries are committed to end open defecation by 2030. This was also declared on the occasion of World Toilet Day, which is marked annually on 19 November 2019.

People defacates on the fields, bushes, forests, ditches, streets, canals or other open space. They do so because either they do not have a toilet readily accessible or due to a traditional cultural practices.

The current estimate 2019 of around 673 million people practise open defecation.This figure already decrease from of about 892 million people, or 12 percent of the global population, who practiced open defecation in 2016.In that year, seventy-six percent (678 million) of the 892 million people practicing open defecation in the world live in
UN estimated of around 673 million people in the world practicing open defacation, 91 percent lived in rural areas. The most practicing open defacation are those countries such as Sounthern Asia: espicially India, Southeast Asia: Indonesia and Cambodia, and Sub Sahara Africa.

Open defecation is a serious problem. Unicef mentioned that every one gram of faeces can contain one thousand parasite cysts, 10 million viruses and one million bacteria. Those who are not handwashing with soap after defacation and before eating caused 800 thousands death from diarrhoea annually.

Open defecation can pollute the environment and cause health problems. High levels of open defecation are linked to high child mortality, poor nutrition, poverty, and large disparities between rich and poor.

In Indonesia, number of those who live with: open defacation, defecation without toilet, are still very high. Still 7.6 percent of Indonesians defecate carelessly.

In Aceh 16.1 percent, Central Sulawesi 18.48 percent (the figure in Central Sulawesi in Figures, but the Central Figures 18.61 percent). In West Sulawesi 16.39 percent. In provinces with advanced infrastructure on Java, the situation is also alarming, especially in East Java (9.58 percent) and Banten (9.16 percent). In the industrial age 4.0 and the era of massive human resource development at present, people in developed provinces in Bondowoso Regency are still 37.6 percent of those who defecate without toilet. In Situbondo 36.1 percent, in Jember 28.1 percent. In Probolinggo district it is 27.5 percent. In Banten Province, Lebak regency was 27.1 percent, Pandeglang was 25.0 percent, even in Serang district was 15.0 percent. Open defacation in the garden, in the field, in Hakaman and other places, without toilet. Outside Java, which has very high open deflation rates include Mamuju regency in West Sulawesi 28.0 percent and Central Sulawesi in Donggala district with 31.6 p and Parigi Moutong 32.6 percent.

Where are the Governors, Regents and local civil society leaders. Why do you let the survival of primitive culture which is very dangerous to the survival of a generation. Living with a dirty and dangerous culture. Ironically this irregularity occurs in areas that are religiously known to be obedient and strong.

Note: when I was head of the East Java BPS, many times did the Bondowoso, Situbondo, Jember and Probolinggo issues mentioned to the East Java Governor. I heard that they have tried but the results have not been optimal ... it needs concrete steps and it is a must..

JSH
Bandung May 2020
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