The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has today handed over water and sanitation projects worth $3.5 million to the Jigawa and Kano state governments.
This was disclosed by the Chief of Party for the Water Improvement and Sanitation Enhancement (WISE) project, Simeon Nyiakaa, during a speech delivered at the handover ceremony held at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital.
According to Nyiakaa, the projects targets 66,000 residents to have access to basic water and 123,000 persons to basic sanitation, with 55 improved water supply systems and 50 improved sanitation facilities in public institutions, including schools and primary healthcare centers in the two states.
He explained that, “The three-year project commenced on August 1, 2021, with the aim of reducing the occurrence and effects of waterborne diseases among targeted populations, especially children, women, and the elderly in underserved and rural communities of the two states.”
“This moment marks the culmination of PfD’s three years of dedicated effort and collaboration in Kano and Jigawa states.”
“Here in Jigawa, the program has achieved success in 32 communities, including 17 communities in Kaugama and 15 in Miga LGAs, where the WISE project first established and trained 62 water caretakers and local area mechanics, 102 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMs), and 102 artisans in each of our targeted communities,” Nyiakaa noted.
He further emphasized that the efforts aim to drive WASH service delivery and management, ensuring that the ownership and sustainability of installed WASH facilities remain strong.
