UNICEF, FCDO collaborate to end open defecation in Zamfara

The Zamfara State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has intensified efforts on sustainable sanitation in the state.

The state government has reaffirmed its commitment towards achieving a Sustainable Open Defecation Free Zamfara State, saying sustainable sanitation goes beyond ending open defecation.

The collaborators have organised a capacity-building programme for traditional pit emptiers and faecal sludge evacuators across four Local Government Areas (LGAs): Anka, Bukkuyum, Kaura Namoda and Maru in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Zamfara State Government, the Programme Manager of the Zamfara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSAN), Dr Abubakar Nasir Galadima, represented by the Director of Sanitation, reaffirmed the government’s commitment towards achieving a Sustainable Open Defecation Free Zamfara State.

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He emphasised that achieving sustainable sanitation goes beyond ending open defecation.

“Human feaces must be safely contained, emptied, transported, treated and properly disposed of or reused to protect self, public health and the environment”.

Galadima expressed appreciation to UNICEF and FCDO for their support aimed at improving sanitation services and protecting vulnerable communities across Zamfara State.

Also, the Lead Facilitator, Abdulsalam M. Abdullahi, said the training was designed to transform traditional pit emptiers into safer, more efficient and professional faecal sludge management service providers.

The training brought together pit emptiers and representatives of RUWATSAN, the Zamfara State Environmental Protection Agency (ZEPIA), the Ministry of Environment, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the media, among others.