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Cross River communities get portable water after 100 years

By Anietie Akpan, Calabar
25 March 2017   |   3:42 am
For over 100 years, the people of six Bebi communities in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State have lived without portable water. They trek distances covering over 10 kilometres...

For over 100 years, the people of six Bebi communities in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State have lived without portable water. They trek distances covering over 10 kilometres, ascending and descending rugged mountains for water. In most cases natives contact water borne disease like diarrhea, skin infection.

So, it became a great relief when Guinness Nigeria and Diageo Foundation partnered through United Purpose (UP) to come up with the ‘Safe Water And Improved Sanitation And Hygiene In Cross River State” otherwise known as the SWISH II project. This project led to the construction and commissioning of six boreholes in the Bebi communities. Today, the communities have free access to safe drinking water in an ‘Open Defecation Free (ODF) environment.

Filled with joy an old woman, probably in her early 70s, suddenly dropped to her knees and began to praise God in her Obanliku language for the facilities.

Moses Obizie, from Bebi 5 Community, who could not hide his feelings said: “In my 27 years on earth and in this village, we have never had water. We trek up the hills, about 10 kilometres to fetch water on daily basis. But today, United Purpose and Guinness have given us borehole. They have reduced our burden.

“We have a stream, but during dry season, the stream dries up. But we still need more of these facilities, especially as students of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, have move down here. If UP and others can add more boreholes, we shall be more grateful,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Celina Akanchum, from Bebi 2 community, said, “before the installation of the boreholes, climbing the mountain for water was a difficult task because of the height and distance, yet we do not always get enough water for our daily use. But now that these organisations have provided our community water life is much easier, our homes are cleaner and our children are happier. No more cholera and other sicknesses that come with not having portable water.

Speaking on the project, UP Country Director, Mr. Gim Connel disclosed that his organisation partnered Guinness Nigeria PLC to carry out the project.

“We have a relationship with Guinness Nigeria to bring people out of poverty and this is the second phase of our partnership to provide safe water for communities. We provide water for communities that have improved on sanitations in particular open defecation status. So, for now Obanliku is the first local government, in Nigeria to achieve ‘Open Defecation Status.’

“ Guinness provides the funding and we facilitate the process by working with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOM) and the state government to ensure that we have ßsafe water in every community,” he said.

Connel disclosed that a minimum of 84 WASHCOM members, 12 per community have been trained and equipped to carry out village-level operation and maintenance of boreholes and continued promotion of sanitation and hygiene after project.

Guinness, Cooperate Relations Director, Sesan Sobowale, said: “We have at least 34 water projects in 24 states and intend to do more. We have provided water to about two million people across Nigeria.”

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