Rotary Club, Kwara agencies, commence collaboration on water, sanitation, hygiene

The Rotary Club of Ilorin metropolis, the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) and the
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) are to collaborate in improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities across communities in the state.

This was the resolution of the organisations during a panel discussion organised by the Rotary Club.

In his address, the President of the Rotary Club, Mr Buhari Oladimeji stated that the programme aims to address the urgent issues of access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities, particularly in under-served areas.

Oladimeji said there is need for an initiative that will promote construction and rehabilitation of water infrastructure, including boreholes and sanitation facilities, in schools and communities.

He said this aligns with Rotary International’s goal of providing access to clean water and sanitation for all.

Oladimeji emphasised that the Rotary Club of Ilorin metropolis, RUWASA, and KWEPA will work together to improve the health and well-being of communities, with a focus on vulnerable populations such as children and women.

Speaking during the panel discussion, Mr Olorunfemi Oladipo, the General Manager of RUWASA pointed out that access to WASH facilities is a fundamental right of citizens.

Oladipo asserted that WASH facilities must be available for all schools, most importantly for female students due to their monthly periods.

He said that the state government has been providing WASH facilities, but noted sadly that maintainance culture of existing WASH facilities is poor.

“We need to engage in advocacy and community engagement to sensitize people on the importance of taking ownership of WASH facilities,” he said.

On his part, the General Manager of KWEPA, Mr Jide Aina, noted that challenges abound on matters of environment.

Aina lamented that workers of the Agency face problem of insecurity, adding that some workers are attacked in the course of their duties.

“There is lack of awareness on the laws of the country concerning environmental protection and health,” he said.

Aina said that the security apparatus is supporting government initiative in enforcing environmental sanitation across the state.

The KWEPA General Manager therefore called for Public Private Partnership with organisations such as Rotary Club in giving the necessary support for WASH.

Dr Opasola Afolabi, an Environmental Health Scientist from the Kwara State University noted that maintainance culture is low for WASH facilities due to ignorance among communities.

“It is cheaper to build toilets but expensive to maintain, because there is no community ownership,” Afolabi said.

He also observed that there is poor data interpretation in the area of WASH in the state.

According to him, the United Nation Children’s Fund and World Health Organisation have recommended that there should be at least one toilet to 50 boys and a toilet to 25 girls, with all the necessary WASH facilities.

Earlier in his goodwill message, Mr Funkeapko Ken Batife, the District Governor of Rotary Club commended the members for their progressive actions in the community.

Batife reiterated the resolve of the organisation to continue to render development and selfless services for people in the country.