From Yahaya Audu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has called on all civil society and community based organization to continue to advocate for improved water sanitation and hygiene access in the country.
The Governor made the statement Tuesday at the Water Aid Nigeria supported clean family campaign launch in commemoration of 2019 global hand washing day held at Cheledi community of Kirfi Local government Area of Bauchi state.
Represented by the Commissioner Ministry of Water Resources,, Umar Sanda Adamu, he said, “I implore traditional and religious leaders, women and youth to support this process by maximising their socio-cultural influence to create the necessary momentum for hygiene behavior change that will help deliver the clean family campaign objectives and untimely realise the clean Nigeria vision”.
Bala Abdulkadir said that the decision to embrace better hygiene practices begins with a smaller unit of society, the family and the society at large.
Earlier in his remarks, the country director Water Aid Nigeria Dr. Chichi Aniagolu Okoye said water and sanitation are basic human rights, but lamented that about 3.9 million people in Bauchi state lack wash services.
“This contributes to the continues outbreak of diseases like Cholera and Lassa fever, lower levels of girls child education, stunting and poor cognitive development in children and increase the spread of antibiotic resistant infections acquired in unhygienic hospitals.
Represented by WASH Technical Lead, Water Aid Nigeria Adebayo Also said in 1018 Bauchi state primary health care development agency reported that 9, 275 Cholera cases resulting in deaths of 28 people were recorded, saying this cannot continue to happen.
