By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Thirty communities in Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State have been provided with water facilities to promote water, sanitation and hygiene for a healthy living
The project was executed by WaterAid Nigeria with funding from Armani Beauty Project in partnership with the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA).
It is expected that the project will serve not less 15,000 people in the 10 Clusters that make up the Thirty benefiting communities with each having not less than 1500 inhabitants including children.
While officially handing over the facilities to the Bauchi State Government through the Tafawa Balewa LGC at a ceremony held in Murantang, one of the benefiting communities, WaterAid Nigeria represented by Sanitation Facilitator of WaterAid Nigeria, Victoria Ali said that project was informed by the need to promote healthy living in the rural areas.
She called on the benefiting communities to ensure that the facilities were put to good use in order to achieve the set objectives which is basically to avert water borne diseases particularly, Cholera among the people especially children.
WaterAid Nigeria assured that it will continue to partner relevant agencies in promoting WASH services in the various communities across the state which it stressed is the primary aim of its services.
While receiving the facilities, State Commissioner of Water Resources, Abdulrazak Nuhu Zaki commemded WaterAid Nigeria for its various WASH interventions in the state saying that they have gone a long way in complementing what the state government is doing in that sector.
Represented by the General Manager of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Adamu Sabo, the Commissioner assured that the government will continue to provide the communities with water and other WASH services.
He called on the benefiting communities to ensure that the facilities were protected from vandalization and maintained to last long as expected urging them to do little contributions in order to have a saving that will be used for minor maintenance.
Also speaking, General Manager of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Adamu Sabo advised the communities to ensure that they always put to practice the WASH protocols they were taught through the WASHCom to prevent disease outbreak.
He particularly urged them to imbibe the culture of handwashing using various forms they were in order to keep their hands from contamination with infections and germs.
The RUWASSA GM stressed that they need to contribute money for regular maintenance of the facilities not necessarily dependant on the government to do everything for them.
Chairperson of Tafawa Balewa LGC, Samaila Wakili commemded WaterAid Nigeria and its partners for the project which he said has complemented what the government is doing in the area of promoting healthy living of the people.
Represented by his Deputy, Maigari Adamu Jambil , the Council Chairperson assured that the Council will ensure that the facilities were protected and effectively used as expected.
Chairman of WASHCom in the community, Abubakar Zailani expressed happiness over the project saying that it has positively impacted the health status of the inhabitants as they now have a reliable source of clean water.
He commended WaterAid Nigeria and other partners for finding the village worthy of benefiting from the project assuring that the facility will be maintained to last long.
Also speaking, the Village Health Committee (VHC), Lubabatu Ahmed Murantang said that her committee is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring hygiene around the village particularly inside the houses and their environment.
She stressed that the Committee usually go round the households talking to them about hygiene and clean environment adding that especially women are educated on how to keep and maintain a clean environment for healthy living.
Lubabatu Ahmed stressed that the most important aspect of hygiene is handwashing at regular intervals, cleaning of toilets, covering of water pots and other utensils as well as washing of cooking utensils before and after use.
The Local Mechanic (LAM), Sabitu Zakari Murantang said that he has been trained on how to handle emergency mechanical fault of the borehole in order to ensure that it did not stop functioning.
He added that his committee has been provided with the needed spare parts to be used in replacing damaged ones while they make reports to the LG WASH Directorate for major repairs.
Some of the residents expressed their happiness over the facility saying that it has gone a long way in alleviating their need for good source of water for drinking and other domestic usages.
