Open Defecation Free (ODF) Program As an Urgent Public Service in Semarang City, Central Java

Abstract

Semarang is the capital city of Central Java, located in the heart of Java island. However, the number of households practising Open Defecation (OD) is still quite high. This fact is astonishing since Semarang is an urban metropolitan area. Therefore, the municipal government of Semarang set a target of abolishing OD in 2018. This article is focused on awareness of the local dwellers in Jomblang Village, Candisari District, on their OD behavior. Data for this study were collected by library research, observation, and in-depth interviews. The result shows that Open Defecation Free (ODF) is part of Community Based Total Sanitation Program, a segment of important public health service must be provided by the government, but not yet well committed. The local people of Jomblang are not fully aware of the importance of ODF. Successful ODF programme needs active participation of the local dwellers in addition to the responsibility of the government as the public service provider, especially in health service, which is one of the most important service it must provide besides education service. and right page margins and justified.