|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Arrangements have been concluded by Bauchi state Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) in collaboration with WaterAid Nigeria to commission newly constructed water projects in two of the most vulnerable and hard to reach communities in Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State.
The projects which are located in Pholantulu in Bununu ward and Tikangog in Tapshin ward have been completed and just awaiting fencing and mounting of sign boards before official commissioning.
While Conducting newsmen round the project sites, the spokesman of the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASA), Mallam Zaharadin Shehu said that the heavy down pour being experienced this year is responsible for the delay in handing over the projects to the two communities.
“In the case of Pholantulu, community members have started enjoying the water facility while those of Tikongog is being delayed as a result of the ongoing construction work of the Boi-Tapshin road which hinders accessibility to the area due to daily rainfall,” Saharadin Shehu added.
He said RUWASA which got funding from WaterAid Nigeria, realized the health hazard the two communities were exposed to as a result of their total reliance on water from streams for their domestic consumption saying “this is the major factor for the choice of the two villages and this will also help to avert the outbreak of waterborne disease like cholera currently ravaging Bauchi State.”
Speaking to newsmen at the project sites, the chairman of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee ( WASHCOM) Malam Kabiru Jibrin said that before the intervention, lack of portable water has hindered their children from going to school because they have to waste much of the learning hours to fetch water.
“Infact, our community lacks basic social amenities including schools and health facilities as well as motorable road so with this water project, our children will be regular in school that is about 3 kilometers away and the health of our family members will be guaranteed” says Mallam Kabiru Jibrin.
Earlier, a spokesman of the CSOs, Mr Magaji Barde expressed joy over environmental cleanliness as well as improved personal hygiene witnessed within the two communities and hoped that the people of the area would ensure maintenance and sustainability of hygiene behaviors as well as the water project.
