By Onwa Ekor
Cross River government has initiated the implementation of the WASH System for Health (WS4H) programme in Obubra local government area with a stakeholders’ meeting.
Recall that the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, had approved the release of ₦95 million as counterpart funding for a three-year WASH intervention programme in Obubra.
At the event organised by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Self Help Africa (SHA),
the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barr Bassey Mensah, described water, sanitation, and hygiene as “not merely basic needs, but human rights and critical determinants of health and development.”
According to him, studies have shown that up to 80 percent of diseases in developing regions are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions, stressing that “investing in WASH is, in truth, investing in the health, dignity, and prosperity of our people.”
The Commissioner emphasised that the meeting was designed to strengthen collaboration between government agencies, development partners, and local authorities to make WASH services more sustainable and accountable.
“Our discussions today will centre on how we can jointly strengthen WASH systems for effective service delivery, align our efforts with national and global goals, and ensure that no community in Cross River is left behind,” he said.
Mensah commended Self Help Africa and other development partners for their continued collaboration, noting that their support has made Cross River a model for sustainable and accountable WASH service delivery.
Commissioner for International Donor Coordination, Hippolatus Lukpata, applauded the leadership of the Council for committing to the success of the programme.
“Obubra has done great by accepting this project,” he pointed out, while calling on the community to protect WASH infrastructures around them and charged them to prosecute any vandals in line with extant laws.
Continuing, Lukpata said: “Cross River was the first to have an LGA declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) in this country, but now, none is ODF, hence our hands must be on deck.”
Vice Chairman and CEO, State Planning Commission (SPC), Dr. Bong Duke, described the engagement as an important meeting, maintaining that, “the WS4H programme represents a vital intervention of four collective efforts to build a healthier and wealthier state.”
Duke, represented by Mr Tommy Samuel, explained that “waterborne diseases, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene facilities have continuously threatened the progress in health and community wellbeing.”
He pledged to ensure the programme is well implemented and integrated into the State’s development priorities.
For the General Manager of RUWATSSA, Hon Sunday Oko, he pledged to relocate to Obubra to ensure the programme works, warning vandals to stay away their negative activities.
Chairman, Obubra local government area, Hon Kingsley Arikpo thanked the state government for choosing his local government area for the programme without any lobbying.
According to him, “even though I wasn’t told that this is how the programme looks, we welcome it.
“Some chiefs are in the business of destroying and selling those infrastructures, talk to them. Another issue is the quality of boreholes; some don’t last long after drilling, and some are done hurriedly.” Arikpo disclosed.
Senior WASH Officer, Self Help Africa. Ferdinand Anok, in his goodwill message urged the participants to take hygiene practices seriously.
The daylong event featured an institution-triggering activity meant to awaken the participants to the realities of eating and drinking shit (faeces).
It also featured a visioning and assessment session.
The Paramount Ruler of Obubra, who also delivered a goodwill message, urged community members to sustain proper hygiene practices and protect public facilities provided under the programme.
