‘Scaling up sanitation requires collective efforts’

Coordinator, Alliance for Hygiene Promotion, Mr. Victor Olaomi, has said scaling up sanitation and hygiene in the country requires the collective effort of stakeholders in the sector.

Olaomi, in Abuja, on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government alone could not provide basic sanitation needs for all its citizens.

According to him, scaling up sanitation and hygiene in the country requires the country to have a pool of resources for meeting this need.

“We also know that there is no way the government can do it alone, so individually and as a people, sanitation is our responsibility as human beings.

‘‘Hygiene is our responsibility, no government can give you money to wash your hands or keep your environment clean; we do that, but not enough as individuals.

“During the Ebola crises, you could see how everybody was scrambling to wash their hands, keep their environment safe and all of that.

‘‘For me, that should be the norm, the attitude and behaviour of Nigerians, it should not be as a result of Ebola.

‘‘Now, if you go to hotels, schools you hardly see those facilities for hand washing that we use to see during the Ebola crises and that is worrisome.’’

The Coordinator said that strengthening of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in a country would be of immense benefit to the citizens.

He explained that when people were involved, the needs and overall goal of hygiene promotion and access to water would be achieved.

He commended the Sustainable Development Goal 6, which saw an entire goal dedicated to WASH, and gave special attention to women, children and the vulnerable.

He said that the goal ensured availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Olaomi explained that this was possible through innovative programmes for sanitation and hygiene scale-up.

On the Federal Government’s Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) Programme, he said there was the need for a similar programme for the urban and small towns.

He also called for purposeful investments in water facilities for improved access for Nigerians, especially the rural poor. (NAN)