NAN-AE-5
Facilities
Mai’adua (Katsina State), Sept. 27, 2016(NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it will provide water and sanitation facilities to 500 schools and healthcare centres in Katsina State.
Madam Padmavathi Yedla, the UNICEF Chief Field Officer in charge of Kano and Katsina States, disclosed this on Tuesday at the inauguration of some projects in Muludu village, Mai’adua Local Government, Katsina State.
She said that facilities would also be provided to over 700 communities in the state, under the Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) project.
‘’We currently working in 155 schools and health facilities in Katsina, next year, we will work in more than 500 schools and health facilities, and 700 communities in Katsina State,’’ she said.
Yedla said the decision was aimed at providing access to clean water and enhance personal hygiene.
She revealed that UNICEF would assist to prevent outbreak of water and environment related diseases that causes high rate of child and maternal mortality in the areas.
According to her, the state government provided 50 per cent of the project’s total cost, while UNICEF and DFID provide the remaining percentage.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Salisu Gambo, said the state had paid N380 million counterpart funds for SHAWN project.
Gambo explained that they have so far provided 704 hand pumps, 20 solar boreholes, 130 toilet facilities in schools and 25 toilet facilities in health centres in the 11 participating Local Government Areas.
Alsos speaking, Gov. Aminu Masari urged the communities to safeguard the facilities and ensure proper maintenance.
Masari said that his administration would continue to join hands with such organisations to improve the living condition of people in the state.
He also urged the communities to intensify efforts on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation to prevent diseases outbreak. (NAN)
ZI/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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