UNICEF, DFID Donates 4 Hilux Vans, Other Supplies For SHAWN II Project in Kaduna
UNICEF, DFID Donates 4 Hilux Vans, Other Supplies For SHAWN II Project in Kaduna
4 Toyota Hilux Donated to Kaduna state government by UNICEF/DFID for SHAWN II project
By ALEX UANGBAOJE
In its continued efforts at addressing the low level access to water sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Department For International Development (DFID) yesterday presented four Hilux Vehicles and six Motorcycles to Kaduna state government.
Others are four desktop computers, GPS Unit, Cameras, Hand pumps and accessories, Village Mechanics Tools and Accessories.
Receiving and commissioning the Vehicles and other supplies, for Sanitation Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN II) project to Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and the three Shawn II Local Government Areas in Kaduna, the State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai noted that one of the most visible and persuasive problems experienced in Kaduna State is the low access to Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
Kaduna state Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai commissioning 4 Hilux Vans Donated by UNICEF/DFID for SHAWN II Project in Kaduna
According to him “As we are all aware, the task of overcoming these challenges is huge but Insha Allah, we will surmount it.
“I wish to assure our people that this administration recognises the strategic importance of WASH as a veritable vehicle for the development of the state and the general well being of its people.
“As part of commitment to this course, proactive steps have already commenced with a view to addressing the lingering problems and challenges within the WASH sector.
“The most recent is the signing of the programme implementation agreement (PIA) to continue the partnership with UNICEF which will address WASH among other interventions.
”In the same vein, the sum of Three hundred and seventy seven million, eight thousand five hundred and fifty naira (N377, 008, 550) has already been approved for the implementation of state WASH programmes and counterpart funding requirement for this year’s 2015 SHAWN II project.”
He therefore commended UNICEF and DFID for donating vehicles and other supplies and assured them of the state’s continued partnership in fulfilling it’s own counterpart obligations and also encouraging other local governments in the state to meet the selection requirements of the SHAWN II project.
In his remarks, the Officer-In-Charge, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Mr. Jones Mpakateni said SHAWN is aimed at accelerating access to sanitation, hygiene and safe water to communities in the target LGAs.
He added that, the main objectives include behaviour change in order to reduce the transmission of faeco-oral diseases, improved health status and overall development of communities as well as strengthen service delivery system.
Mr. Jones stated that the project promotes principles of accountability, visibility and value for money to ensure the children and women in target LGAs access quality services.
He called on the recipient LGAs to sustain release of the monthly operational funds of Two hundred and fifty thousands naira (N250, 000, 00) to WASH units in order to achieve the planned results.
Earlier in his address, the project manager RUWASSA, Bashir Umar Lere said Kaduna is among the six states in the country benefiting from the UNICEF/DFID donor funded SHAWN II project.
He explained that the project is aimed at reaching seven million people within six participating states that lack access to sanitation, hygiene and rural water supply by November 2018.
He said eight LGAs will benefit from the project, but a phased approach was adopted with the take up of three pilot LGAs of Chikun, Kachia, Kubau and RUWASSA.
