WaterAid Nigeria Tasks LASG As WASH Project Ends In Lagos

Evelyn Mere, Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, has advised the leaderships of the Ojodu Local Council Development Area and Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area to demonstrate commitment by sustaining the gains of the WaterAid Nigeria/Kimberly Clark supported Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement Project so that all subsequent outcomes are incremental until universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene is achieved in both LCDAs.

Mere, who was represented by Kolawole Banwo, Head of Advocacy, Policy, and Communication at WaterAid Nigeria, stated this while speaking at the End-of-Project meeting in Lagos, stating that for the last two years, WaterAid Nigeria has been working with the government and people of Lagos State to implement the Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement Project (SHIP) in Ikorodu North and Ojodu Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

She explained that the project aimed to improve health outcomes in the two LCDAs’ target areas by installing enough restrooms and hand washing stations, as well as promoting hygiene among pregnant and breastfeeding moms.

“WaterAid Nigeria is proud of the project’s milestones and achievements.” This is an example of what commitment and collaboration can do in the effort to transform lives by providing clean water, adequate toilets, and excellent hygiene a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere.

He went on to say that through the intervention, WaterAid Nigeria, with the help of Kimberly Clark, rehabilitated 34 dysfunctional toilet facilities and hand washing stations at primary healthcare centers and schools across the state.

“As part of the project’s system-strengthening objectives, we established and trained Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM) members as local resources to maintain the provided facilities.” In addition, we developed Environmental Health Clubs in schools, which are now part of extracurricular activities in 40 schools around the state.

“To realise the project’s goal of increasing awareness of safe hygiene behaviour practices among pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as children, we undertook hygiene behaviour change campaigns using Water Aid’s ABCDE approach aimed at changing the setting in my people’s minds through cues, games, and takeaways to encourage the practice of good hygiene.

“We are proud to see that hygiene behaviour change campaigns have been incorporated into antenatal sessions within the healthcare centres where we intervened,” Mere said.

She thereby appreciated everyone who has the world with them and supported us in no small measure to see to the success of the project.

“We are particularly grateful to the Chairmen of Ikorodu North and Ojodu for their receptiveness and support throughout the implementation of the project.

“I enjoined the leadership of the LCDAs to demonstrate commitment by sustaining the gains of the projects so that all subsequent outcomes will be incremental until we achieve universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene in both LCDAs,” she added.

Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources while speaking appreciated the efforts put in place by WaterAid and Kimberly Clark Corporation in ensuring the safe and hygienic state of the environment.

Olusegun Odumbaku, Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, appreciated WaterAid Nigeria and Kimberly Clark Corporation stating that two projects have successfully been commissioned in the council area.

He said that the projects will go a long way in changing the narratives about Local Government’s governance in line with Public Private Partnership and how the council area can use the same model to bring succour and much-needed infrastructure closer to the people.

Niyi Odugbesi, the Secretary to the Chairman, of Ikorodu North LCDA, said that the LCDA has had a good working relationship with WaterAid Nigeria for the past few years with the rehabilitation of toilets and water in eight schools (both primary and secondary) which has been a tremendous success.