By Sani Bala Karo, Kano
In a spirited move by Kano State Government to rid the state of open defecation habit, the state, through its Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), distributed more sanitation and campaign materials to six Local Governments (LGs), thus coming closer to achieving the enviable status of being Open Defecation-Free (ODF).
The LGs are Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Sumaila, Bebeji, Bunkure and Tofa.
Speaking during the presentation, Managing Director (MD) of the Agency, Engr. Shamwilu Abdulkadir Isa called on people of the state to continue to imbibe the culture of our decent ways and manners of defecation in line with the teaching and practice of Islamic faith with regards to personal hygiene.
Engr. Isa recalled that it is well known that latrines occupy important place in the architectural designs of our traditional homes, adding that RUWASA was seeks to reawaken people’s consciousness to avert outbreak of water-related diseases or those ones associated with improper defecation.
The MD added that achieving ODF needs a vigorous campaign that requires committed teamwork in which all players and stakeholders capable of cascading the mission to the grassroots have to be ambassadors, urging LG Supervisory Councilors and Heads of Departments (HODs) to give the National Task Group on Sanitation and UNICEF team coming for validation exercise their maximum cooperation and support.
The MD also charged them to ensure that all the materials given would reach schools through the different LG Education Authorities, noting that children are critical targets because of their vulnerability to diseases.
Speaking earlier at an interactive session with the participants, the Director, Planning, Measurements and Evaluation of the Agency, Hajiya Zahara’u Isyaku Mukhtar, stated that the essence of the meeting was to reach out to the six LGs through the Councilors and HODs to share the outcome of the Agency’s visit, especially in areas of progress and challenges.
She urged them to redouble efforts to meet up with ODF schedules as a national emergency programme which the State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, is so keen and passionate about.
Highpoints of the event include paper presentation on WASH Protocol, Hygiene Promotion and ODF Sustainability Plans.
Items distributed included Information, Education and Communication materials, improved latrines cover, Tippy Tapp sanitizer and public enlightenment banners.
