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Category: LDSC

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Empowering Communities For Better Sanitation

In a remarkable display of community collaboration and dedication to improving public health, the South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO), in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria, has successfully established and trained a Toilet Committee in Ogrute, Igboeze North LGA. This initiative marks a significant step forward in promoting hygiene behavioral change and improved sanitation practices within the community.

Day 1: Building the Foundation

The first day of the event commenced with a crucial meeting involving key community stakeholders, including the Igwe of Ogrute, the LGA Chairman, and Market Executives. The meeting, facilitated by the State Team Lead (STL) of WaterAid, focused on the handover of the newly established toilet facility to the community and the selection of a five-member Toilet Committee. The STL emphasized the importance of including women in the committee, with a particular recommendation for a woman to serve as the treasurer. It was also suggested that the committee members be unemployed to ensure they have sufficient time to manage and maintain the facility effectively.

During this meeting, the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (PMER) officer from WaterAid highlighted the critical role of the committee in maintaining the facility, including keeping daily records of sales and transactions. The Honorable Chairman of the Ogrute community expressed his gratitude for the project and mentioned the recent enactment of a law against open defecation in the community. He assured the attendees that the facility would be utilized, maintained, and managed properly. Additionally, the Igbo-Eze North LGA Chairman committed to employing the five-member committee as ADHOC staff in the local government, further solidifying the community’s dedication to maintaining the facility.

Day 2: Equipping for Success

The second day was dedicated to the comprehensive training of the Toilet Committee members. The training session began with an opening prayer led by the Igboeze North WASH Coordinator, followed by introductions from all attendees. The session was attended by the selected five-member committee, Igboeze North WASH unit staff (Coordinator, Hygiene, and Sanitation officers), the Traditional Ruler of Ogrute community, Igbo-Eze North local government executives, ENSTOWA-Ministry of Water Resources (Sanitation Officer and Assistant), WOSCONET (Vice President and Volunteer), WaterAid, and SSDO staff.

The STL of WaterAid delivered a welcome address, setting the tone for the day’s activities. The WaterAid PMER provided an overview of the training objectives, emphasizing the importance of effective toilet management, the roles and responsibilities of committee members, and the significance of teamwork and collaboration. The SSDO WASH Program Associate led insightful sessions on these topics, ensuring the committee members were well-equipped to handle their new responsibilities.

The Traditional Ruler of Ogrute, Igwe Wilfred Ogbonna, encouraged the committee members to manage and maintain the facility properly. He also promised to send watch guards every Eke market day to inspect the market environment and identify individuals practicing open defecation, as part of efforts to eradicate this practice in the community.

A key highlight of the training was the session facilitated by the Sanitation Officer STU, who covered essential hygiene and sanitation practices. Topics included:

– Basic principles of hygiene and sanitation

– Proper cleaning and maintenance

– Waste disposal methods

– Ensuring the supply of cleaning materials

Participants learned proper handwashing methods and the critical times for handwashing. The sanitation officer emphasized that committee members should ensure everyone using the toilet washes their hands afterward to prevent the spread of diseases. The training also covered the F-diagram, illustrating how feces can be transmitted into the mouth through various means (Finger, flies, fruit, food, foot, and field). Further sessions focused on toilet cleaning, proper waste disposal, and financial management of the record book.

A Vision for Sustainable Change

In conclusion, the committee members developed action plans to ensure the facility’s sustainability. The training ended on a positive note, with a renewed commitment to maintaining the toilet facility effectively.

The successful establishment and training of the Toilet Committee in Ogrute, Igboeze North LGA, demonstrate the power of community collaboration and the dedication to creating a cleaner and healthier environment. SSDO and WaterAid Nigeria are proud to have facilitated this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community.

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SSDO Commemorates Menstrual Hygiene Day

Did you know that over 37 million women and girls of reproductive age in Nigeria lack access to menstrual hygiene products due to a lack of funds? Period poverty is a global problem but is more prevalent in developing countries. Today, girls are still stigmatized and excluded because of a normal bodily function. 

Understanding this challenge, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria, is playing its part in changing the narrative. To commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day this year under the theme, “Together for a Period Friendly World.”

The team organized a 2-day menstrual hygiene management education and sanitary pad-making program at Community Secondary School, Iva Valley, Enugu. 

Stakeholders present include Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Felix Nnamani, Commissioner for Children, Gender, and Social Development, Hon. Mrs. Ngozi Enih, Special Adviser on Donor Relations, Hon. Dubem Onyia, Senior Special Assistant on Social Culture, Dera Okenwa, WaterAid Country Director, Evelyn Mere represented by the Enugu State Team Lead, Mr. Solomon Akpanufot among other dignitaries. 

The event was an opportunity to trigger the government and secure their buy-in on menstrual hygiene policy and guidelines.

Students were taught in a participatory and inclusive approach on how to make reusable sanitary pads. The school outreach was an opportunity to raise awareness and promote proper menstrual hygiene practices among female students. Male students were also sensitized as brothers, future fathers, and uncles so they knew how to help out. 

They were taught not to stigmatize or mock their female counterpart. The engagement increased knowledge and understanding of menstrual hygiene, debunked myths and misconceptions, and challenged stigmas surrounding menstruation.

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SSDO, WaterAid Conducts Hygiene Behavior Change In-Program Evaluation

South Saharan Social Development Organization in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria conducted an in-program evaluation of the hygiene behavior change campaign to assess the progress, challenges, and outcomes of the campaign among community members in Mboshi-Aji community, Igbo-Eze LGA. 

This helped the team to identify key knowledge gaps and understand how targeted hygiene behaviors have been adopted and sustained within the community. As well as to identify key barriers in areas where the hygiene behaviors have not been adopted. 

SSDO’s WASH Program Officer, Obianuju Ezeike PMD and Programs Assistant, Hannah Okugo, facilitated the process alongside other stakeholders. This documentation process and evaluation will help provide recommendations and guarantee the project’s sustainability.

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SSDO, WaterAid Nigeria Commemorates World Water Day

Water scarcity, unequal access, or no access to water can cause tension, increase stress, and result in conflict in communities. As climate change impacts increase and the population grows, there is an urgent need to protect, conserve, and increase access to our most precious resource.

Public health, agriculture, economic productivity, and environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle. Let us join hands and make water more accessible to all. 

Understanding this challenge and the need to improve access to water in rural communities, South Saharan Social Development Organization in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria and the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources through the Small Town Unit commenced the construction of a 20,000-gallon water scheme in Mboshi-Aji community, Igbo-Eze LGA funded by Latter Day-Saints Charity Project.

The foundation-laying ceremony signifies the outset of a transformative endeavor aimed at enhancing water accessibility and fostering community development. The water scheme will help to reduce open defecation and keep Enugu on course to achieve an open defecation-free status by 2030.

The project will help combat poor sanitation, infectious diseases, malnutrition, and help community children focus more on their education as the distraction of going long distances to draw water will be eliminated.

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SSDO, WaterAid Organizes Hygiene Behavior Change Campaign in Mboshi-Aji

South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria, organized a community engagement event under the Latter-Day Saints Charity Project (LDSC) III. The project’s goal is to improve access to clean water and hygienic sanitation in communities of Enugu state. 

This event marked the initiation of the Hygiene Behavioral Change (HBC) campaign, a crucial component of the larger LDSC III project. 

The campaign took place at the Community Primary School Mboshi-Aji, with active participation from various demographics within the Mboshi community. 

The community engagement event was strategically divided into two groups, fostering effective interaction and engagement. It was an avenue to teach hygiene education. 

This encompassed proper handwashing techniques, practices, and sanitation and waste management. Men, women, and children were well represented and contributed to the success of the event.