Bauchi Monarchs To Sensitize Politicians On Provision Of WASH Facilities, Pledges Support
From Yahaya Audu, Bauchi
Traditional rulers in Bauchi state have re-iterated their determination, commitment to sensitize aspiring politicians on the need to provide water and sanitation facilities to communities when elected into various offices.
The Emir of Ningi Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya and his counterpart, the Emir of Dass Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman stated this when members of Society for Water and Sanitaion (NEWSAN) and Wash Media Network paid them an Advocacy visit in their respective palace.
In their separate speeches, Alhaji Bilyaminu Othman said, previously politicians don’t care about the plight of the people but, “we will make sure we educate and sensitize them on the need to sign a pact with the with communities in the area of water and sanction so that when they are elected in office, they will fulfill their promise and the pact will serve as a remainder”.
“We will support vote for WASH campaign because Dass has benefited a lot from this kind of intervention which one of them resulted to declaration of Dass as the second open defecation free (ODF) in the country”.
While on his part, Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya assured to support WASH campaign in the state.
Danyaya explained that, “Already I am a vanguard of hygiene and national leader for sanitation and hygiene for six years in this country. I want to assured that we are committed to support vote for WASH campaign success at any level in.our communities”.
He said, from his perspective Vote for WASH campaign will work well because with this initiative all existing gaps between poor practice of sanitation and hygiene will be close.
He said the major problem in Nigeria and the entire Africa is environmental Sanitation issues that relates to poor sanitation, “Lack of clean water in the continent is the source of all those communicable diseases such as malaria, cholera, among others”.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Sukumun Ezekiel, Programme Manager of Women Development Association for Self-Sustenance said the Vote for WASH campaign is an advocacy strategy designed to mobilize citizens to demand clean water, improved Sanitaion and Hygine practices (WASH) with the power if their votes.
According to him “the concept of this campaign is to use the 2019 general election and post election period as an opportunity to highlight and campaign for the availability and accessibility of WASH services in Bauchi state. Outcome of the Vote4WASH campaign will contribute to achieving several sustainable development goals.
“Activities to be conducted under the Vote for WASH campaign include awareness and sensitization meetings with stakeholders, development of the vote for WASH pledge cards, launching of the Vote for WASH campaign and media engagement among others. All these will be geared towrds government prioritizing the WASH sector for increased funding and reducing over dependence on donor agencies.
NEWSAN and WASH Media Network are working in partnership with Water Aid Nigeria in implementing the strengthening Water Sanitation and Hygine Delivery Systems (SWADS) project which is aimed at strengthening citizens engagement on Vote for WASH campaign. The project is funded by Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).
