From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
No fewer than 24 Facilities including schools, Primary Healthcare Centres are to benefit from second phase of the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS II) programme in Jigawa State.
This was announced by theShafeeq Ur Rehman Chief of UNICEF field office Kano, while delivering his speech at the inception meeting with stakeholders supported by Foreign Commonwealth Development Office FCDO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Mr Rehman who said the first phase of the programme is very successful maintained that the second phase implementation will be an improvement from the past experiences to achieve the desired goals.
According to him, the programme was designed to strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure in schools and healthcare facilities while improving water, sanitation and hygiene services.
He said, the successful implementation of the first phase of the project in Jigawa and Kano states informed the expansion of the programme to additional states.
“The CRIBS II will cover 14 primary healthcare centres and 10 schools in Jigawa State, with water and sanitation interventions integrated into all the facilities”.
He then commended the Jigawa State Government, implementing partners and communities for their contributions to the success recorded under CRIBS I, describing the project as a model intervention.
While making his presentation, Dr Uba Lawal, WASH Specialist UNICEF Kano field office said ,the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS II) Project is designed to strengthen the resilience of essential public facilities against the adverse impacts of climate change while ensuring uninterrupted access to basic services for communities.
He maintained that, the inception meeting was convened to present the concept and scope of the CRIBS II Project, familiarize government partners, UNICEF consultants, site engineers, and contractors with the project objectives, and enhance stakeholder understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities.
He noted that meeting also provided an opportunity to introduce contractors and project supervisors to stakeholders, as well as share the list of target locations and the specific scope of rehabilitation works planned for each site.
The project recognizes that climate-related hazards such as flooding, drought, heat stress, and windstorms continue to threaten public infrastructure and service delivery. To address these challenges, CRIBS II will implement a range of adaptation and resilience measures.
To mitigate flooding, the project will construct flood drainage canals, raise platforms for boreholes, elevate toilet structures, and strengthen perimeter walls to prevent floodwaters from entering facility premises. In response to drought conditions, deeper boreholes, solar-powered water storage systems, and expanded water supply facilities will be provided to ensure reliable access to water during periods of scarcity.
The UNICEF WASH Specialist, added that, to reduce the effects of heat stress, facilities will benefit from heat-reflective paints, false ceilings, improved natural ventilation systems, tree planting for shade, and solar-powered cooling solutions. Furthermore, measures to minimize damage from windstorms will include the planting of windbreak trees and the construction of protective
Also speaking, Chairman of Taura Local Government Area, Hon. Hambali, expressed appreciation to Governor Umar Namadi, UNICEF and FCDO for bringing the intervention to the state.
He described the project as a major boost to education and healthcare delivery, particularly at the grassroots level.
Hambali assured UNICEF and its partners of the council’s support in facilitating the implementation of the project, stressing that Taura Local Government would provide an enabling environment for contractors and development partners.
He said the intervention would complement government efforts in improving public infrastructure and service delivery across communities.
The CRIBS programme focuses on enhancing climate resilience in critical public facilities, particularly schools and healthcare centres, while ensuring access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services for vulnerable communities.
