By Stanley Onyekwere
As part effort towards attaining the status of Open Defecation Free (ODF), the FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Directorate (RUWASSA), in collaboration with WaterAid Nigeria have engaged stakeholders on strategically developing action plan to bridge gaps in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions across the FCT.
To this end, stakeholders, mainly key government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and community leaders drawn from the six FCT Area Councils and yesterday converged in Abuja for a One-Day workshop on the dissemination of the WASH baseline survey report.
Speaking at the event, Overseeing Director, FCT RUWASSA, Mr. Luke Ifop Ulom, said from preliminary findings of the report, more work is still needed to achieve open defecation across the six Area Councils.
According to him, preliminary findings reveal gaps in access to potable water and improved sanitation facilities, especially in under-served communities.
He said: “The survey also underscores the need for intensified hygiene promotion to reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases. These insights will guide policy formulation, program implementation, and community engagement strategies.
“Let us commit to collaborative efforts that will translate the baseline data into impact-full interventions. Together, we can build resilient communities with improved health outcomes and sustainable livelihoods.
“As we move forward, I encourage continued and strengthened collaboration with UNICEF, WaterAid,Private sectors and other development partners to ensure that the gains made in Bwari and Kwali are replicated across the entire Federal Capital Territory.”
He therefore, assured that FCT Administration will strengthen partnerships, enhance capacity
building, and ensure accountability in WASH service delivery.
Also speaking, Head of Programmes, WaterAid Nigeria, Nanpet Chuktu, described the engagement as a laudable achievement, as the government is taking the driving seat towards identifying and closing the gaps, which are the key causes of preventable water and sanitation diseases.
He noted that improved hygiene comes from having access to safe and clean water as well as the knowledge and education to know what to do and how to prevent diseases.
“These are two major areas where we have actively supported the area councils within the FCT to raise the bar, increase knowledge, and promote safe hygiene practices.
“WaterAid has been working in the FCT for years now, and we are supporting the FCT, RUWASSA, and Bwari, as well as the Gwagwalada area councils, to improve access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.
“We seek to continue supporting the FCT administration and the Area Councils to improve access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene”, he stated.
On his part, the Agora of Zuba,
HRH Muhammed Bello Umar, said to achieve ODF status in FCT, it is essential to provide support to rural communities, as they need functional toilets.
The monarch, who was represented by Muhmmed Sani
Magajin Garin of Zuba, added that raising awareness about the proper use of toilets will go a long way in solving sanitation problems.
“We need toilets in our communities. Many people, especially in mixed communities, do not have access to proper toilet facilities. Instead, they resort to open defecation, which leads to the spread of diseases. Flies carry diseases from the feces back to our homes.
“It is crucial that we have toilets in our communities and that people are educated on their proper use.
“We must also take responsibility for maintaining these toilets. I have seen instances where people have used toilets improperly, leading to further sanitation issues”, he stressed.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
