In order to correct the lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene services, Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the twenty LGAs in Bauchi State have been directed to conduct a comprehensive sanitation exercises in compliance with the national campaign ‘Clean Nigeria; Use the Toilets’ aimed at delivering ‘open-defecation free Nigeria by 2025’ campaign.
The revelation and directive was made and given by the state governor, Bala Mohammed on Tuesday during the lunching of ‘Clean Family’ campaign organised by the State Ministry of Water Resources, Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) with support from WaterAid Nigeria held at Kirfi local government area of as part of the commemoration of this year’s Global Hand Washing Day.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner of Water Resources, Umar Sanda Adamu, explained that the special sanitation exercise has since begun in June this year.
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He further said that although the campaign was launched in Kirfi local government area, the lessons learned should be replicated in all other local governments of the state.
Bala Mohammed who revealed that about 3.9 million people in the state lack access to water, sanitation and hygiene services assured that his administration is committed to creating institutional frameworks, partnerships and collaboration with a view to accelerating the access to the services quickly.
Also speaking, the Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye represented by the Technical Lead, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene of the organisation, Adebayo Alao, opined that non-access to water, sanitation and hygiene services by many citizens of the state is what contributes to the continuous outbreaks of diseases like cholera and Lassa fever.
“In 2018, the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA) reported that 9, 275 cholera cases resulting in the deaths of 28 people were recorded. We cannot continue to let this happen as a people,” he said.
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