Rano says it's never too late to stop open defecation

Jakarta - The Deputy Governor of Jakarta, Rano Karno, has stated that it is never too late for areas within the capital to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status as part of an effort to maintain the health of residents.

“It turns out that in 2026, there are still instances of this (open defecation) in Jakarta. Therefore, for me, it is never too late,” said Rano during the Open Defecation Free (ODF) Declaration for RW 12 in Tomang Village, West Jakarta, on Monday.

Open Defecation Free (ODF) in Jakarta is a programme aimed at achieving total sanitation. The objective is to suppress the spread of environmentally-based diseases (such as diarrhoea and worm infections), prevent stunting, and create a clean environment that improves the overall quality of life for Jakarta residents.

To declare a region as ODF, the requirement is that at least 500 households must use bathing, washing, and toilet (MCK) facilities that meet the appropriate standards. However, Rano noted that not all areas in Jakarta currently possess these facilities. “Behind the Metropole cinema, there is one area that does not have an MCK. Everyone uses the river,” he said.

The Jakarta Provincial Government intends to address this condition gradually.

In West Jakarta, specifically in Tomang Village, which has just declared its ODF status, there are a total of seven communal MCK facilities. “Our target is to build four communal MCK facilities. We are inviting collaborators. We have been able to build and revitalise five, making a total of seven communal MCK facilities that we have facilitated together,” said the Mayor of West Jakarta, Iin Mutmainnah.

All 56 sub-districts in West Jakarta have now declared ODF status.