By: turayahmedyusuf586@gmail.com
The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (MWRS), in partnership with UNICEF, on Tuesday, 18th November 2025, commemorated World Toilet Day 2025 at its headquarters on 56 Liverpool Street, Freetown. This year’s global theme, “Sanitation in a Changing World,” underscores the growing urgency to strengthen sanitation systems amid climate change, rapid urbanisation, and rising population pressures.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Sao Kpato Hannah Isatu Macarthy, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding equitable access to safe, dignified, and climate-resilient sanitation services for all Sierra Leoneans. She noted that inadequate sanitation remains a serious threat to public health and environmental sustainability, adding that government continues to accelerate reforms, infrastructure investments, and community-driven sanitation programmes.
Dr. Macarthy highlighted that shifting climate patterns have intensified sanitation-related risks such as flooding, contamination of water sources, and the collapse of outdated waste-management systems. She described World Toilet Day as a timely reminder that sanitation, hygiene, and toilet access are essential pillars of national development.
UNICEF, a long-standing WASH sector partner, reaffirmed its support towards strengthening sanitation governance, promoting behavioural change, and improving access to safe water and sanitation for vulnerable groups especially children. Its representatives called for stronger collaboration across ministries, local councils, schools, communities, and development agencies.
The ceremony brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, and the media. Speakers emphasised the need for greater investment in climate-resilient sanitation infrastructure, innovation in sanitation programming, and intensified public awareness on hygiene and waste-management practices.
World Toilet Day, observed globally on 19 November, is recognised by the United Nations as a platform to advocate for safe sanitation for all, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
Progress and Challenges in Sanitation Delivery; The Minister reported that the MWRS continues to drive nationwide sanitation improvements through interventions such as the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), programme, the Chiefdom-Wide Approach, and the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation Strategy (CWIS). These initiatives target households, schools, health facilities, markets, and other public spaces.
To date, 21 chiefdoms have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), while five others are undergoing preparation bringing the total to 26. Dr. Macarthy stressed that each chiefdom must undergo a rigorous verification and validation process before certification to ensure long-term sustainability.
She also flagged growing sanitation pressures in urban and peri-urban areas, where overcrowding, land scarcity, poor drainage, and inadequate faecal-sludge management remain serious challenges. Many informal settlements now rely on single toilets serving dozens of people due to rapid population growth.
To address these issues, the Ministry is:
Expanding CLTS under the Chiefdom-Wide Approach,
Supporting CWIS planning for Freetown City Council (FCC), and Western Area Rural District Council (WARD-C), Intensifying hygiene education through the Clean and Green Salone Initiative, Promoting behavioural change to discourage open defecation
The Minister added that the Ministry has trained and deployed sanitary inspectors across local councils. Discussions are underway to strengthen regulatory enforcement through the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), including assigning sanitary inspectors to support compliance monitoring.
Strategic Projects and Future Goals; Dr. Macarthy highlighted ongoing and upcoming projects including a new World Bank-supported sanitation programme that will enhance liquid-waste management, expand access to public toilets, and deepen community engagement on hygiene and behaviour change.
She noted that the Ministry’s five-year strategic plan, aligned with national development priorities and running through 2030, aims to expand ODF coverage nationwide. Despite gradual progress, she expressed confidence that sustained multi-stakeholder efforts will yield significant improvements.
On the selection of Moyamba District for this year’s national celebration, the Minister said the district was chosen because several of its chiefdoms have completed verification and are ready for ODF declaration. She stressed that national events should not be centralised in Freetown and that decentralisation is critical.
Statements from senior officials; Deputy Minister Ing. Francis Alpha Kallon reaffirmed Moyamba’s readiness for ODF certification, noting that five chiefdoms have met the initial requirements. He emphasised the need for continuous monitoring to prevent slippage, particularly in the face of population growth.
He further noted that the Ministry’s district-wide approach is helping to consolidate ODF gains while supporting additional chiefdoms to progress toward certification. For urban areas, he underscored the importance of the CWIS approach and World Bank-supported infrastructure investments.
Permanent Secretary, Mr. Alieu Bakarr Conteh, welcomed the media and stakeholders, stressing the importance of shared responsibility in advancing sanitation. He described World Toilet Day as an opportunity to assess progress, strengthen partnerships, and intensify public education.
Mr. Conteh clarified that Moyamba was selected based on its completed verification stages and readiness for certification. He noted that more communities are now stepping forward, driven by intensified nationwide sensitisation.
Call to Action; The Ministry stressed that recent flooding incidents highlight the urgency of improved sanitation, as floodwaters often transport waste across communities, increasing public-health risks. Officials called on citizens, development partners, civil society organisations, and particularly the media to amplify public education on safe sanitation practices.
They emphasised that media engagement is vital, given journalists’ broad reach and influence.
Special attention was drawn to the safety of women and children, who face heightened risks including gender-based and sexual violence where safe and private toilet facilities are unavailable.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to safe sanitation, promoting behavioural change, and strengthening public awareness to achieve open-defecation-free communities across Sierra Leone.
Officials expressed gratitude to the media and development partners, noting that continued collaboration will ensure a successful and impactful World Toilet Day commemoration.