Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), has engaged stakeholders in the Plateau State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, (WASH), on the need to always ensure improvement in the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene to better the lives of the citizens.
During an advocacy visit to the office of the Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene, (SURWASH) office in Jos, the National Coordinator of the Organization, Mr Attah Benson said their visit to Plateau State was to engage policymakers, legislators and the private sector to see that water, sanitation and hygiene was always at the top of every government policy across the country.
He added that another thing is to ensure that safe water and hygiene is accessible to citizens across the states and nation.
“We see the need to engage and advocate to the government of Plateau State to improve government’s commitment towards ensuring the improvement of the life, health and social wellbeing of the citizens through improved provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery and uphold WASH as a priority development program at every level in Plateau State.”
Mr Benson informed the Co-ordinator of Sustainable Urban Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene that NEWSAN carried out a WASH Charter of Demand tagged, ” Vote 4 WASH Campaign” to all political parties and aspirants prior to the 2023 general elections on the need to pay special attention to the implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene.
He also gave statistics of the 2021 report of a survey carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation showing the status of Plateau State as 52 per cent of citizens have access to basic water supply service.
A breakdown of the statistics on the state’s status on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, shows that only 3 per cent of the state population have access to safely managed water while 63 per cent drink water that is contaminated with E-coli from the source or at the household level.
56 per cent practice open defecation, 9 percent schools, 3 per cent healthcare facilities and 3per cent public places have access to basic WASH services. 9 per cent have hand washing facilities on premises with water and soap.
Mr. Benson said Plateau State have an estimated 104,399 existing water facilities with 82 per cent of the public water facilities functioning, and 30per cent having access to basic sanitation services.
He called for an increase in budgetary allocations and releases for the WASH program in relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
The organization also called on the government to do more in the implementation of the Open Defecation Free (ODF) roadmap by providing resources to make the local government WASH units functional to enable them implement their programs in their various communities.
Responding, the Co-ordinator of the Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene, (SURWASH), Mr Dakat Jacob appreciated the guests for their articulated presentation, noting that it shows how passionate they are about the well-being of citizens, especially through the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.
He also applauded the commitment of the organization’s State Coordinator, Dr Vings Lomak whom he said they had no option but to integrate him as a member of the SURWASH team.
Mr. Dakat informed his guests about government commitments to that effect, saying it was a thing of joy that the state is one of the participating states in the SURWASH program. He added that the program was packaged in a way that they have no reason to fail.
He said all that they enumerated were the focus of the SURWASH program adding that the state had already made adequate plans for the success and sustainability of SURWASH plan and program since it will end by 2027.
The visit to Plateau State was led by the State Coordinator of the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Dr Vings Lomak.
During the advocacy visit, the team was at the office of the Technical Advisers to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Water Management, Hon. Jurbe Godep, Special Adviser on Sustainable Technology and Carbon Credits, Hon. Nuhu Yakubu and Special Adviser on Budgeting, Obadiah Afwanks.