The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WVCHD) reported yesterday that 74.73 percent or 3,028 of the 4,052 barangays in the region have achieved zero open defecation (ZOD) status.

During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas in Iloilo City, WVCHD Regional Director Adriano Suba-an said the accomplishment was achieved primarily with the support and cooperation of the concerned local government units (LGUs), encouraging the remaining barangays to comply.

“What is important here is we stop the transmission of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and other infectious diseases,” he said.

The ZOD is among the components of water sanitation hygiene (WASH), the fourth priority outcome of the DOH.

In 2023, the DOH provided funds to the municipalities of Buruanga in Aklan, Anini-y in Antique, and San Lorenzo in Guimaras for their advocacy, and information and education campaign.

“These are the ones that exerted efforts to make sure that their areas would also be able to establish zero defecation accomplishment,” Suba-an said.

This year, he said, four LGUs from Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, and Guimaras would also receive funding support from the DOH for their respective ZOD initiatives.

Suba-an urged the public not to defecate anywhere and to be responsible pet owners.

Meanwhile, in terms of access to water, 95.32 percent of the population in Western Visayas have access to a safe basic water supply while 53.98 percent have access to safely managed drinking water.

The WVCHD also reported that 91.16 percent of the region has access to basic sanitation facilities while 69.78 percent has safely managed facilities. (PNA)