Gombe Gov’t Urged To Establish WASH Fund
BY NAJIB SANI, GOMBE
The Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) has called on the Gombe State government to establish a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Fund to support the attainment of statewide Open Defecation Free (ODF) and global WASH goals.
According to NEWSAN’s National Coordinator, Mr. Benson Attah, the WASH Fund would play a crucial role in addressing the significant WASH challenges facing Gombe State, including limited access to basic water supply, contaminated water, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene facilities.
Attah made the call during a presentation to Gombe State WASH stakeholders, including the state house of assembly, ministry of water resources, and ACRESAL, as part of NEWSAN’s high-level advocacy on WASH.
The proposed WASH Fund he suggested, should be managed by a Technical Working Group under a Steering Committee, with contributions from Local Government Areas (LGAs) and other stakeholders.
This, he added, would ensure a sustainable and coordinated approach to improving WASH services in the state.
“By establishing a WASH Fund, the Gombe State government can demonstrate its commitment to prioritising WASH and improving the health, well-being, and survival of its citizens, particularly vulnerable populations like children, women, and people living with disabilities.”, he opined.
In his response, Dr Sani Jauro, Programme Coordinator ACRESAL said as part of measures to ensure environmental sanitation, the state government has established 21 waste collection centres in the state and embarked on desilting of drains.
While the Permanent Secretary ministry of water resources, Danladi Adamu, said the advocacy for the establishment of WASH Fund was crucial and expressed optimism that the government will welcome the idea ‘because it always accepts advices that are beneficial to the state.
Chairman house of assembly committee on water Honourable Musa Zambuk pledged that the assembly would look at the recommendations of the NGO and propose motions on them.
