By Onwa Ekor
Participants at a two-day workshop organised in partnership with Self Help Africa (SHA) and supported by the UK’s FCDO through WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, in Calabar the Cross River capital, have called on the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, to approve and sign into law the developed and adopted policy implementation plan within 60 days.
This forms part of the resolutions reached through an extensive stakeholders consultations and contained in a communique signed by representatives of government, House of Assembly, traditional institution, partners, civil society organisations, academia, persons living with disabilities, among others.
The revised policy which replaces the state’s 2011 framework seeks to position the state on a pedestal that would see it strengthening access to safe water and sanitation for the citizenry.
The communique also highlighted the urgency for updating the policy to address emerging challenges like climate change, population growth, rapid urbanisation, and gender inequalities in WASH services.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barr Bassey Mensah, lauded the partners and other stakeholders for being part of the process, describing the validation as “a milestone in the state’s journey toward inclusive and sustainable WASH services.”
Chairman, State Task Group on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (STG-WASH) and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Dr Okon Ita, maintained that the need for an improved policy was long overdue, hence the vigour for its realisation.
Programmes Manager of WASH System for Health Programme by Self Help Africa, Mr John Wali, reiterated the commitment of SHA in strengthening the WASH system in Cross River.
With the support of the WS4H Programme which is focused on reducing preventable WASH-related deaths especially among women and girls, the state is expected to strengthen accountability, improve financing, and scale up community-led solutions.
The finalisation and validation workshop led by a consultant, Mr Gimba Goyo, ended with a collective plea to ensure that the WASH Policy becomes a living document, driving improved health, resilience, and development for all residents of the State.
