A Bauchi-based group, Alliance for Child Care, Health and Women Initiative (ACCAWEI), says it has targeted 118 households to improve latrine use and water management in the state.

The project is being implemented by the Development Exchange Centre – Small Scale Project Fund (DEC-SSPF) to enhance hygiene, water management, and excreta disposal in Galambi and Birshi communities.

Juliana Enoch, WASH desk officer, said this on Monday during the close-out of a six-month project at the Birshi community in the Bauchi Local Government Area of the state.

She highlighted that the project improved hygiene practices since its inception in the benefitting communities.

“Based on a baseline survey, only seven out of the 70 households used dropholes to cover their pit toilets. However, by the end of the project, 67 households had adopted the practice.

“Also, during the initial survey, 77 households were found using cups to fetch drinking water from storage containers, and at its completion, 115 households had adopted safer water-handling practices,” she said.

Ms Enoch said the project also rehabilitated hand pumps to improve access to clean water in the Birshi community, leading to a reduction in diarrhoea disease cases from 227 to 22.

The WASH officer said the project also engaged 24 village hygiene promoters (VHPs), who conducted house-to-house sensitisation to encourage behavioural change.

“We relied on our volunteers because house-to-house mobilisation is key to achieving our objectives,” she said.

Ms Enoch lauded the Bauchi Local Government WASH Unit and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) for their support.

Mohammed Lawal, a community leader, commended the gesture and pledged to step up hygiene messages to promote good sanitation in the area.

“Hygiene education remains instrumental in preventing diseases in our communities. Scaling this project to other areas in Birshi will go a long way in sustaining positive health outcomes,” he said.

Also, Sani Adamu, one of the VHP volunteers, commended the organisation for its commitment towards promoting good hygiene practices.

(NAN)