The Bauchi State Network of Civil Society Organisation (BASNEC) has said that statistics from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is alarming, tasking the state government to improve on the sector.
While addressing journalists, yesterday, the Chairman of BASNEC, Mr. Jinjiri Garba said that the 2021 WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping report showed that “21% of the Bauchi State Population still practice open defecation, 72% of the total number of schools. And, 93% of the total number of healthcare facilities and 97% of public places do not have access to basic WASH facilities.”
Jinjiri said that, globally, 70,000 children under five die every year from diseases caused by lack of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene services. “These statistics remain alarming, as Nigeria still remains distant from achieving the SDG 6 Goal, ensuring universal access to basic lifesaving services,” he said.
He added that WaterAid Nigeria in partnership with Women Development Association for Self- Sustenance and the Bauchi State Governments overall goal was to scale up WASH solutions that are sustainable climate-resilient, gender- responsive and address key cross-cutting elements of other development goals including health, education, poverty, economic growth and nutrition.
“By 2028 our ambition is to reach 10,000.000 people directly through our interventions with basic WASH services and behaviours Working collaboratively with the government of Nigeria and other key partners in development, media academia private sector and civil society space, we further seek to influence improved basic WASH access for 17.000.000 more people (Water Aid).
“Water Aid is implementing Armani Beauty, L’Oreal Luxe Germany towards providing Water and Hygiene Promotion Project (WAHPP) in Bauchi State. The project is designed to provide clean water and implement hygiene promotion activities in Bauchi State specifically targeting at least 30 water scarce communities in the state with limited access to clean water and poor hygiene practices. The project will provide access to safe water and hygiene education to 15,000 beneficiaries in 10 target communities within Bauchi State…’’
In commemoration of the World Toilet Day 2023, WaterAid in partnership with Women Development Association (WODASS) is investing in the advocacy component of the Amarni project to advocate to Bauchi Stakeholders on the need to prioritise the provision of safe water improving hygiene and ending sanitation crises especially the use and construction of decent toilets to improve on livelihood of the citizens of Bauchi state of which has impact on health, education and other multi sectors of value in the state.
