Collaboration and Education Intensified Ahead of Open Defecation-Free Jakarta

Jakarta Provincial Government continues to accelerate its steps towards the target of 'Jakarta Free from Open Defecation' (BABS) in line with the national commitment to creating a healthier and more civilized environment.

Jakarta has also set targets

Jakarta Health Agency Head, Ani Ruspitawati said this effort is run across sectors with various strategic approaches, ranging from education to the development of sanitation facilities.

Ani added that the health sector plays a role in data collection and education for the community, while infrastructure development such as MCK (Bathing, Washing, Toilet) and communal septic tanks is carried out by technical agencies such as the Water Resources (SDA).

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This collaborative effort has been realized in a number of real activities, including data collection on households that still implement open defecation by community health center officers together with health cadres, while also providing education regarding the negative impacts of this activity.

Joint cross-sector commitments are strengthened to accelerate the completion of BABS within a five-year period.

"Other collaborative efforts include the construction of sanitation facilities using regional budget funds by relevant regional government agencies, encouraging private sector participation through CSR schemes to build sanitation facilities in areas not covered by the regional budget. Wealthy communities are also encouraged to build sanitation facilities independently, as stipulated in Regional Regulation Number 10/2024 and Regional Regulation Number 8 of 2007," she said, Thursday (8/7).

She explained that nationally, the 2025–2029 RPJMN targets that there will be no more households practicing open defecation by 2029, with a minimum achievement of 30 percent safe sanitation access.

The Ministry of Health is targeting a gradual reduction in the percentage of open defecation, namely 2.5 percent in 2025, 1.8 percent in 2026, 1.2 percent in 2027, 0.6 percent in 2028, and 0 percent in 2029.

"Jakarta has also set targets in line with the central government, both for the elimination of open defecation and the completion of closed defecation within five years since the commitment to handling was made," she explained.

As for information, open defecation is the practice of defecating directly in open spaces such as rivers, gardens, or ditches. Closed defecation refers to the use of latrines that produce unsafe waste, such as direct disposal into bodies of water without a septic tank.