By Aliyu M. Aliyu
The United Nation Children’s Funds (UNICEF) has described the recent presentation of certificate to 14 local government areas of Jigawa state as not the end of the journey towards Open Defecation Free (ODP), rather a landmark targeted to protect the health of children as well as provide healthy environment.
Speaking during the presentation of certificates held at Sule tankarkar local government area of Jigawa state, the WASH Manager, UNICEF Field Office Kano, Mr. Rafid Salih, said “It is important, as we validate more Local governments areas as Open Defecation Free to remember that the sustainability of the ODF as important to maintain the healthy environment for children”. he added.
According to Rafid, this achievement could not happen without the collaboration of all stakeholders, hence, there is the urgent need for government, traditional leaders, religious leader and the communities to indicate their support and commitment to this noble accomplishment.
UNICEF further appealed to the Jigawa state government to increase more resources, not only on ODF, rather in water sanitation and hygiene for children as it has great effect on children health.
He explained further that investment in WASH will significantly reduce the investment in health as WASH is prevention of diseases, expressed appreciations of United Nation for the remarkable achievement in addressing the menace of Open defecation in Jigawa state.
He said, UNICEF in collaboration with the state government has been working tirelessly in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene since 2010 and the result has yielded positive impact on the communities.
Mr. Rafid called on the state government to allocate more resources to sustain the success of the program as well as ensure that all the 27 local governments of the state become free Open Defecation.
He also advised traditional leaders, civil societies, private organization and general public to keep-up their enlightenment campaign against open defecation to ensure clean society.
His words:-“Hygiene and Sanitation are very critical in addressing many disease that are contributing to the high rate of child death and all hands must be on deck to ensure the survival of our children”.
In his remarks, Minister of Water Resources Engineer Sulaiman Adamu described the presentation of the certificate as a milestone toward achieving targeted goals of making Nigeria a Free Open Defecation society by 2025.
He said Federal government will continue investing heavily to make provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities accessible and affordable to all Nigerians.
In his speech Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar said, clean water is one of the basic necessities needed by common man daily, and providing such necessity remain one of the Paramount priorities of his government.
“We thank Almighty God as UNICEF is presenting certificate of Open Defecation Free” to 14 local government with estimate of three million population, we are equally happy for achieving 92% provision of clean water to our people”. Said Badaru.
The governor than promised to continue collaborating with Federal government, UNICEF other development partners and the general public to make Jigawa clean and happiest society for all.