The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced access to water, sanitation and hygiene services to over 73,000 people within health centres, schools and underserved communities across Sokoto and Kebbi states.
Over two years, through its Integrated Water Sanitation and Hygiene Services (i-WASH), the American development agency established 19 new, solar-powered boreholes and restored 27 non-functional hand pump boreholes by collaborating with state ministries, local government WASH units, rural water supply and sanitation agencies and local communities to enhance WASH services across seven schools, four health centres and 46 rural communities.
The endeavour ensured availability of 13 improved latrines and 17 handwashing facilities for school students and primary healthcare center users. Roughly 100 remote sensors were deployed to monitor water pumps in Kebbi and Sokoto states. Commenting on the recent successful conclusion of the i-WASH initiative in Abuja, USAID/Nigeria WASH Team lead, Latif-ur Rahman, remarked, “Through our collaboration with Green Habitat Initiative, we have introduced a novel system for remotely monitoring water pump functionality, enhancing transparency and accountability of WASH investments and reducing facility downtime”.
This $2 million i-WASH activity has contributed to the Nigerian government’s endeavours in mitigating water-borne diseases and related socio-economic challenges, while also expediting Nigeria’s progress towards achieving health, water and sanitation targets outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals 3 and 6.
