The Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere has declared that humanitarian crises have denied people access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WSAH) services in Northeast.
According to her, the situation has exposed many residents, particularly women and children to various risks of attacks and the contracting of infectious diseases.
“The triple WASH services are, however, critical in lifting people out of poverty and supporting them to realize their full rights with socioeconomic potentials.
Evelyn raised that alarm, on Friday, at the WASH project launch event in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
Citing the State of WASH denials, she disclosed: “The 2021 Water Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping Survey, indicated that 76% of people living in the State drink contaminated water, while 93 percent lack access to basic hygiene services.”
She lamented that only 14% of schools and 12% of healthcare delivery centres have basic WASH facilities across the state.
She said that to ensure the strengthening of WASH, WaterAid will be working with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, youths and women’s groups.
Others to be engaged in the WASH project, comprised Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp leaders, organised private sector (OPS) and the State’s Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and the Local Government Areas WASH departments.
Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
August 26, 2022.
