"It's like eating a tart or pizza. Piece by piece, the taste is much more enjoyable"
1. Number of Open Defecation (OD): Almost 25 million Indonesians prefer practicing open defecation to toilet use; however, this activity is riskful due to the potency of soil, water and air sources contamination and increases the risk of disease exposure specifically diarrheal. One of the four Toddlers (children aged 1-5 years) in Indonesia could be identified suffering from diarrheal diseases, which makes it the first-factor causing child mortality in Indonesia. The trigger is definitely found in the case of the water or food consumption,whose E. coli bacteria are discovered within, even though it should not be existed at all in the water for sanitation needs. The emergence of defecation behavior itself is potentially caused by 2 things, namely attitude (as the influence of an action) with an addition, it is about incorrect perception which is considered by the people performing open defecation that by doing the habit, they can be well-accepted by society until giving them autonomy so it proceeds as habit which is provided a sense of comfort for them.
"Even if they pretend to be away from sickness, people with open defecation behavior carry out the growth and development of highest risks with them and children as the most vulnerable figure"
2. Poor Water Quality: Only 7% of wastewater is cultivated in Indonesia. A survey in 2017 with the research point namely Java's urban center found that at least 90% of water sources and 67% of domestic drinking water are contaminated with faecal bacteria. Another survey shows that 38% of 7000 households across 22 provinces in Indonesia reported complaints about their water quality. These facts seem so real because based on available data in 2021, 15.37% of villages in Indonesia are passed by polluted rivers, so it is reported that more than a quarter of villages in Indonesia are affected by the contamination of these water bodies. This condition also explained that the main cause of water pollution is nothing other than the contamination of household waste, including neglected open defecation which poses a health risk.
3. Increased Access to Water Supply: Indonesia has access to the water supply at a moderate level and it is still making progress in the access increase of the water supply. In 2011, around 84% of Indonesians had access to water supply, from initially only 70% in 1990. In the process, water supply access increased very slowly from 90% to 93% in urban areas, while rural areas experienced a significant increase from 61% to 76% in 2011. By initially disregarding the hygiene, in the fact of access to the water supply dramatically affects the growth and early development of children, especially regarding the risk of stunting. 10% risk of stunting can be reduced when the households have proper WASH*
"In Indonesia, most of us never frequently find out whether the water we use every day is clean and safe. So at least, avoiding behaviors that let us even more at risk is the best way"
4. Increased Access to Sanitation: During 2006-2015, the level of access to sanitation in Indonesia increased by 6.5% per year. Nevertheless, almost 100 million people were still living without sanitation improvement in 2015; most of them are in the rural areas. On the other hand, 3 out of 4 people have access to the sanitation improvement in urban areas, while less than half of the rural population has this access.
5. UNICEF efforts: Posted in WASH ACTS - 2022 Edition, UNICEF has made many efforts to realize safe and sustainable WASH for Indonesian children by innovating, partnering, and leveraging political will. Throughout 2022, UNICEF has innovated by bringing up the WASH narrative being more real by releasing #WaktunyaCekidot , as the first campaign in Indonesia to promote safe sanitation at home. Together with the KEMENKES, KEMENPUPR, and Bappenas, UNICEF is also strived to increase public awareness about the importance of clean groundwater and safe sanitation by releasing a Policy Brief entitled of, "Safe Use of Groundwater", as well as conducting Youth Engagement by utilizing U-Report in the social media in the form of polling and challenges. Finally, UNICEF Indonesia and SWA support the government of the Republic of Indonesia as the host of the high-level "Sector Ministers Meeting (SMM)" forum to discuss the WASH, Finance, Environment, and Health sectors in addressing the COVID-19, Economy, and Climate Crises.
"Finish what we have first, then together with ourselves who have finished, let's realize safe and sustainable WASH for all"
*Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
This article is a republication of The Borgen Project with some modifications from the author with the aim of re-adjustment to strengthen the argument and expand the knowledge base.
Editor: Andin - Telkom University, ADAP and Social Young Partners of UNICEF Indonesia