It has been stressed that the issue of effective faecal sludge management and disposal is not any body’s business but the business of everyone to promote healthy living in society.
The assertion was made by the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Tushar Rane at the closing of a ‘3-day Strategy Development Workshop on Climate-Resilient Operative Guidelines for Bauchi State’ held on Thursday at the Chartwell Hotels and Suites, Bauchi.
He said that management and proper disposal of faecal sludge needs a multisectoral approach if the set objectives of healthy and hygienic living must be achieved.
Rane stressed that if one agency backs out in the fight, there will definitely be a devastating impact on society therefore a need for all the relevant agencies to rise up to the occasion.
The UNICEF Chief of Field particularly called on the Ministries of Water Resources, Housing and Environment as well as Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RUWASSA) as well as CSOs and others to synergize and adopt a common approach to the issue.
He pointed out that the last time there was an outbreak of cholera, Bauchi State was worst affected with 70 percent of the victims in the country but said gladly that the story is gradually changing positively.
He therefore assured that UNICEF will continue to give the required technical support in order to achieve the set objectives of faecal management and disposal across the state.
Tushar Rane then commended the participants for their positive contribution throughout the 3 days of the workshop saying that it was a very engaging workshop hoping that the outcome would result in a lot of positives.
In his closing remarks, the Director General of BASEPA, Mahmood Bose commended UNICEF for supporting the state in that direction saying that the workshop was worthwhile.
The BASEPA DG stressed the importance of effective faecal sludge management and disposal in a healthy environment as it will reduce the rate of infectious diseases, especially cholera.
He assured that all the relevant government agencies will collaborate, study the outcome of the workshop and come out with a comprehensive and workable plan and document on faecal sludge management and disposal.