Only 25 per cent of households in 112 councils in the country use modern latrines, it has been learnt.
The minister for Health and Social Welfare Dr Seif Rashid said that the figure is according to findings from a study done by the ministry last year.
Speaking here during the climax of the World Environment Day, Dr Rashid said the study also indicated that 29.6 per cent of the households in 112 councils surveyed do not have latrine facilities.
He said many people especially in rural areas do not know the importance of using toilets for their own health, calling on health officers to educate the people on the benefits of using modern latrines.
The government’s projection is to have at least 53 per cent of the households using modern latrines by the 2016.
Dr Rashid said that his ministry launched a national cleanliness campaign in 2012 with the aim of enabling 1,520,000 households to use modern latrines by the year 2015.
He said a total of 312,528 households have so far constructed modern latrines while 204,213 households have installed hand washing facilities after visiting toilets.
Dr Rashid said that a total of 9,120 hamlets have signed agreement to preserve the environment and observe cleanliness in their respective jurisdiction.
Mwanza city emerged the overall winner in the cities category for preserving environment and observing cleanliness, beating the other three cities of Mbeya, Tanga and Dar es Salaam.
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