By Murtala Muhammad
Bauchi State Government has been urged to ensure the full implementation of the recently launched Faecal Sludge Management Strategic Guidelines to sustain the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status achieved by nine of the state's twenty Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Officer of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office, Nambam Michael Dawap, highlighted this during an interactive session with journalists.
Dawap noted that while achieving ODF status is significant, sustaining the accomplishment requires consistent effort and commitment.
Dawap emphasised the importance of engaging stakeholders to maintain the progress made during the Sanitation, Hygiene, and Water in Nigeria (SHWN) project.
This initiative, supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in collaboration with UNICEF, successfully mobilised communities to participate in various sanitation-related activities" Dawap explained.
The WASH Officer stated that to sustain ODF status in Bauchi LGA and other communities, it is essential to separate faeces from human contact and address issues surrounding its safe management to ensure effective sanitation in all areas.
According to Dawap, achieving ODF communities is a collective responsibility involving the government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), traditional institutions, and the media.
She stressed the need to prioritise women and children, who are the most vulnerable groups in society, in these efforts.
UNICEF's WASH Consultant, Abdussalam Abdullahi Mohammed, praised Bauchi LGA's attainment of ODF status as a significant milestone. He commended the collaboration among stakeholders that made this achievement possible.
Abdussalam Mohammed also acknowledged UNICEF's substantial contribution to the success, including fostering collaboration among various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and training Toilet Business Owners (TBOs) to construct affordable toilets for households.
These according to him were supported by LIXIL, a company that produces tje cheapest toilet products and Micro Finance Institutions who provides loans for the households to build improved toilets and payback in installments.
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