By Gbenga Ojikutu
As part of efforts towards promoting good Hygiene and Water
accessibility across the Local Government Areas of the State, Ekiti
State Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene
(SURWASH) Program has held a Water And Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Clinic, in order to map out the Implementing Agency’s Work Plan for year 2024.
The State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof Mobolaji Aluko noted that the WASH CLINIC is meant to provide
solution to any gaps detected in the WASH Sector of the State and as
well as delving into the activities and targets of the Agencies for the year.
Prof. Aluko who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry,Engr Olumide Ajayi explained that the SURWASH Program which became effective in 2022 was expected to supply 6.1millon people with basic drinking water services, 1.4 million people access to improved sanitation services and 690,200 women with access to improved sanitation services adding that the initiative would enhance WASH services in 2,000 Schools and Healthcare Facilities (HCFs) as well as
500 Open Defecation Free (ODF) verified Communities by the year 2027.
In his remarks, the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer of the State
Program Implemention Unit , Mr. Olatunji Olorunfemi, gave the overview of SURWASH program to include increased access to Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene services, strengthening sector institutions in Seven participating states of Nigeria.
In his presentation on Year 2024 Work Plan, Target and Objectives ,
Mr. Olorunfemi, itemized some of the physical Projects in the Small
Town, Rural and Urban programme to include Rehabilitation, upgrading
and Constructions of Boreholes, Water Schemes and Construction of
under ground Water reservoirs
He thereby charged all the concerned stakeholders to know their Roles and be participatory in order to achieve SURWASH targeted results.
The Technical Assistant on Environment of the State Implementation Unit (SPIU), Mr. Adewole Akinduntire and his counterpart on Social Safeguard, Mr. Adesua Samuel, while presenting a paper on Implementing
Environmental and Social Safeguards on SURWASH Program Stated that E&S Screening exercise can’t be avoided, noting that it is meant to minimize and investigate adverse project impact on the environment and the affected people, exclude certain high risk, screen proposed activities to determine the risk profile and prepare a mitigation measures.
Mr. Akinduntire noted that non compliance with E&S measures and tools of the SURWASH Project might lead to Hazard on the environment and the beneficiaries as well as non disbursement of incentives, stoppage of the projects and unsuccessful Implemention of SURWASH Program in the
State.
The Small Towns Engineer on SURWASH, Olajide Olatiilu urged the
beneficiary communities to make judicious use of the facilities when
it’s put in place by taking ownership and cultivate a good maintenance
culture for Sustainability of the Projects, which is the key aspect of
the Program.
The WASH institutional Officer, Tolulope Adewemimo, stressed the need to follow the technical required standard which is the prerequisites
eligibility disbursement for WASH in Schools and Health Care
Facilities which fall under the DLI 7 of the result area 2 of the
SURWASH program with the focus on the construction, rehabilitation of
functional improved Water Supply Sanitation and Hand washing
facilities.
In her closing remarks, the Environmental Officer, Mrs Tolu Osadare said the importance of the WASH CLINIC was to identify roles, issues and filling up of any gaps detected.
