Plateau: NEWSAN Engages Stakeholders on Safe Water, Sanitation, Hygiene

Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), has engaged the Plateau State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, (WASH) stakeholders on the need to improve provision of safe water, Sanitation and Hygiene to improve the wellbeing of the citizens.

During the engagement 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 is to engage policy makers, legislators and the private sector to see that water Sanitation and Hygiene is always at the top of every policy of government 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.”

The National Coordinator informed the Co-ordinator of Sustainable Urban Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene that NEWSAN carried out a WASH Charter of Demand ragged, ” Vote 4 WASH Campaign” to all political parties and aspirants before 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 which shows the status of Plateau State as 52% citizens have access to basic water supply service.

Breakdown of the statistics on the state status on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, shows that only 3% of the state population have access to safely managed water. 63% drink water that is contaminated with E-coli from source or at the household level.

56% practice open defecation, 9% schools, 3% healthcare facilities and 3% public places have access to basic WASH services. 9% have hand washing facilities on premises with water and soap.

Mr. Benson said Plateau State have an estimated of 104,399 existing water facilities with 82% of the public water facilities functioning, 30% have access to basic sanitation services.

He called in the government to improve commitment to sufficient budgetary allocations and releases for WASH program in relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

The Organization also want the government to improve implementation of Open Defecation Free (ODF) roadmap by providing resources to make the local government WASH units functional to 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 his guest for their articulated presentation, noting that it shows how passionate they are to the wellbeing of citizens especially through the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.

He also appreciated the commitment of the organization state coordinator Dr. Vings Lomak which he said they have no option but to intergrade him like a member of the SURWASH team.

Mr. Dakat informed them of the government commitments to that effect, saying it’s a thing of joy that the state is one of the participating states in the SURWASH program. He added that the program is packed in the way that they have no reason to fail.

He said all that they enumerated are the focus of the SURWASH program and that the state has already made adequate plans for the SURWASH program to succeed and also a sustainability plan since the SURWASH program will end by 2027.

State Coordinator of Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Dr. Vings Lomak led the team on the visit in the State

The team rounded their engagement meeting with the following advisers to the Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, Technical Adviser on Water Management, Hon. Jurbe Godep, Special Adviser on Sustainable Technology and Carbon Credits, Hon. Nuhu Yakubu and Special Adviser on Budgeting, Obadiah Afwanks, which was held at TASTE Office Complex.