The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with water Improvement and Sanitation Enhancement (WISE) have provided improved water supply and Sanitation to 102 communities in Kano and Jigawa state.
Mr. Simeon Nyiakaa, chief of party WISE activity disclosed this while closing the programming and handing over to Kano state government for sustainability held in Kano on Tuesday.
According to him, the program which was supported by USAID and implemented by WISE has engaged all community members and their leaders from designing, implementing and monitoring for sustainability, expressing optimism that the project will be sustained.
READ ALSO: Russia Lunches Massive Attack on Ukraine’s Power Grid Amid UN’s Nuclear Chief Visit
He the program was implemented in three years and seventy communities from Gezawa and Karaye local government area of Kano state and 32 communities from Miga and Kaugama local government area in Jigawa state benefitted the intervention.
Mr Simeon said the goal of the project is to reduce the occurrence and impact of water, sanitation and hygiene among targeted population especially children, women and the elderly in underserved and rural communities in Jigawa and Kano state.
In Kano state “We have installed 43 improved water facilities (22 hand-pump
boreholes and 21 solar-powered boreholes).”
“Installed 23 gender-responsive improved sanitation facilities in 17 schools and one health care facilities, providing inclusive sanitation services, supported 3,093 households to construct and use safely managed latrines through its Community-Led Total Sanitation,” he said.
“Trained 210 Volunteer Hygiene Promoters (VHPs) on Household Hygiene Promotion and Behaviour Change, Trained 70 artisans for household latrine construction and four WASH material suppliers to support WASH services
and sanitation marketing, Empowered 395 women with financial literacy and
business skills, formed over 65 Villlage Savings and Loans Associations with 1,52 1 members mobilizing savings for WASH in 59 communities,” he added.
READ ALSO: USAID to Train Health Personnel on DRS Scheme in Kebbi
In Jigawa state, WISE have successfully installed 55 improved water facilities (40 hand pump boreholes and 15 solar-powered boreholes.
“We’ve installed 31 gender-responsive improved sanitation facilities in 14 schools and 4 health care facilities, providing inclusive sanitation services. Supported 3,597 households to construct and managed latrines Community-Led Total, Plus approach with 28 communities certified open defecation free out of 32 targeted communities.
“Established 32 community WASHCOMs, trained and equipped 26 local artisans as water caretakers and local mechanics (LAMs) for operating and maintaining
installed water facilities and Trained 96 Volunteer Hygiene Promoters (VHPs) on
Household Hygiene Promotion and behaviour Change and others,” he added.
Mr. Simeon Nyiakaa then urged community leaders, traditional rulers and self-help groups including Imams in the benefitting areas to take ownership of the facilities and ensure their sustainability.
In a remark, the Kano state commissioner for rural and community development Alhaji Abbas Sani Abbas who described the project as well come development assured the state government’s commitment in sustaining the gesture and builds more facilities.
According to him, the state government is currently organising training of people cutting across different communities in 44 local government area of Kano state on the sustainability of all implemented programs constructed by both the state government, nongovernmental organization and donor agencies.
READ ALSO: Diphtheria: Five Northern States Records Over 97% of Cases Nationwide — NPHCDA Chief
“Some people are still in the habit of open depiction, so we need to enlightenment campaign exercise and programs so that we tell them the implications and ways to avoid it,” said Abbas.
The program has in attendance principals of benefiting schools, community leaders self-help groups from Gezawa and Karaye local government areas in Kano state.
Also, a similar program will be conducted on Thursday in Jigawa state.