The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), says the development of Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) guidelines will drive Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign in Bauchi State.
Dr Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office, said this at a one-day study tour of the FMS strategy implementation in the state.
According to her, Bauchi state is the first state in the country to developed FSM guidelines, adding that the UN agency had been encouraging people to build toilets in their homes.
Represented by Nanbam Dawap, UNICEF Water Sanitation and Hygiene Officer, Rafique said that using toilets would fasttrack attainment of ODF status in the society.
“Even when the toilets are filled up, we will have to manage them through the sanitation chain from the collection, transportation, storing and the recycling.
“I want to congratulate Bauchi state in a very special way for being the first state to have the guideline for Faecal sludge management in Nigeria,” she said.
She also commended Plateau and Gombe state governments for sending representatives to participate in the study tour, and urged the participants to learn the skills and step down the training to their communities.
Mr Danlami Kawule, the Bauchi Commissioner for Housing and Environment, commemded UNICEF, WaterAid Nigeria and other donor partners for their support to the state.
Kawule said that such partnership assisted the state towards achieving safe and good sanitation to enhance public health.
“The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency as a regulating agency under the Ministry of Environment is doing a good work by formalising all the key actors along the faecal sludge value chain,” he said.
Mr Habibu Mohammed, the General Manager, Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), underscored the imperative of the exchange exercise in achieving ODF, adding that the agency had studied the function of WASH in the Plateau to aid its operstions. (NAN)
