By:
Aisha Mohammed
United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has identified community ownership, behavioural change, climate-resilient infrastructure and budgetary allocation for water, sanitation and hygiene, WASH, activities as strategic tools for attaining Open Defecation Free Status at the grassroots.
It has urged the twenty-one Local Government Chairmen in Adamawa State to make allocations for WASH activities in their respective councils.
The UNICEF Chief, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, Nigeria, Emily Rand, made the assertion after an inspection visit to Shelleng and Ganye Local Government Areas to assess the implementation of the Accelerated Access to Water and Sanitation for All, ASWA III, program.
The UNICEF Chief, WASH Nigeria, Emily Rand, expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded in most of the communities visited and stressed the need to support more Local Government Areas to attain Open Defecation Free Status.
Rand said the benefits of the programme cannot be overemphasized, particularly in promoting good hygiene practices among residents.
She attributed the gains to improved handwashing with soap and water, as well as the construction and use of toilets.
Rand expressed optimism over the ODF progress recorded in the two Local Government Areas, noting that while some have made significant progress, others are at a considerable stage towards attaining ODF status.
According to the UNICEF WASH Chief in Nigeria, interventions by UNICEF, with funding support from the Government of the Netherlands, include sixteen water facilities in health facilities and schools, while six additional facilities are ongoing in Primary Healthcare Centres.
She added that fifteen more boreholes are expected under the program.
While commending the Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, and the communities for their commitment to mobilization and ownership, Rand described the inclusive leadership demonstrated by men and women in the communities as encouraging, particularly through the formation of WASH committees.
“What was exciting was the community engagement and the WASH committees being strong and vocal,” she said.
On her part, the UNICEF Chief, Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, explained that WASH committees were established to create awareness in various communities.
She noted that the program had demonstrated a high sense of responsibility, as residents collectively built their own toilets using their resources.
The UNICEF Chief, Bauchi Field Office, appreciated the Adamawa State Government for ensuring prompt payment of counterpart funding for all interventions in the state.
The General Manager of RUWASSA, Esly Emmanuel, explained that the ODF process was designed to create awareness and promote understanding of the health implications of open defecation.
He expressed gratitude to development partners, especially UNICEF, for its interventions in health, water and hygiene.
The Adamawa State RUWASSA boss confirmed that Community-Led Total Sanitation activities had resulted in improved hygiene behaviour at the grassroots.
The WASH intervention is being implemented under the Accelerating Access to Water and Sanitation for All, ASWA III, program, with funding from the Netherlands Government and implementation by UNICEF in partnership with the Adamawa State Government.
