The government and health partners on Wednesday declared Ihirang Boma in Lopa County of Imotong State open defecation free areas.
One hundred and fifty households dug latrines in Ihirang Boma qualifying the area open defecation-free Boma in the state.
Imotong Minister for Physical Infrastructure, John Savio Otwor told Radio Emmanuel that his ministry and partners have been monitoring digging of latrines in the area.
He commends the positive response of the communities to the initiative to reduce the spread of diseases.
Minister Savio urges communities in the state to take the example of Ihirang villages as means of preventing diseases.
Peter Mahal, Director-General for Rural Water Supply in the National Ministry of Water Resources, says Ihirang is the first Boma in the country to be declared open defecation free area.
The official urges communities to practice better hygiene.
Rural Water and Sanitation Support Agency is committed to support the community after the funding cut in 2013 until the area attain the status of open defecation free, says Director Joseph Kenyi.
He says his organization had earlier planned for Torit, Lafon and Lopa Counties, but later insecurity interrupted some areas of Torit.
The speakers talked to Radio Emmanuel when they were travelling to Lopa County to witness the declaration of the open defecation free area.