Before any substantive development, I would like to thank Mr. Sylvain Usher, Executive Director, for giving me the opportunity to speak in my capacity as President of REDFEPEA on the occasion of World Toilet Day celebrated on November 19, whose theme this year is "sustainable sanitation and climate change".

Indeed, recently, climate change had a significant impact on the Republic of Djibouti, particularly with the frequent and intense floods that have caused major disasters.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Water and Fisheries in charge of fishing resources in collaboration with ONEAD and REDFEPEA, the Djiboutian network of fisheries women, water and sanitation professionals will celebrate this World Toilets Day  by organizing various activities. First of all, the population should be sensitized to connect to a sustainable and decent sanitation facility and to equip themselves with adequate hand-washing facilities. This awareness of the importance of handwashing for household safety will consequently annihilate illnesses related to lack of hygiene and will thus, in the long term, increase the life expectancy of these households.

In this regard, since youth is the best vector for raising awareness, we make schools a priority in our awareness activities, especially in this time of pandemic COVID19 crisis, it is important to recall the essential gestures.

Mariam AHMED, Djiboutian Network of Professional Women in Water and Sanitation