North governor launches war against open-air defecation

The Northern Region boss has launched an awareness campaign on the use of latrines referred to as "one House, one latrine”.

According to a report reaching the Governor of the Northern Region, Jean Abate Edi, the Cameroonian pilgrims who just returned from Mecca had too much trouble using modern toilets during their stay on the Holy land. They preferred defecating in the open rather than use the toilet at their disposal.

Out of the distant villages, mostly these Cameroonian pilgrims who were leaving the country for the first time have never used modern toilets or latrines.

"It is a mundane but very important subject" revealed the Governor. Jean Abate found it necessary to convene the heads of services in his region to talk about toilets.

For the Governor, everyone must become involved in this public awareness campaign on the use of toilet in a region where the habits and culture is to defecate in the open air.

Jean Abate Edi instructed the mayors, heads of institutions and the delegate of Government to build more toilets. He issued that any person who will be caught trying to defecate in the open air in the town of Garoua should be placed in custody. 'Anyone found trying to get off his pants to defecate in the open air, will be arrested with his pants down' warned the Governor.

The Governor also indicated that attendants and ringleaders of the pilgrims are trained in the care of those who have to travel to Mecca. According to Jean Abate Edi, Cameroonian pilgrims had difficulties at several levels even in the use of elevators.