In Nigeria, more than 60 million people do not have access to basic water supply. Over 12 million people lack access to toilet facilities. 29 percent of children do not have water to meet their daily needs. Thus affecting their ability to attend school and wash their hands properly to fight off diseases. For people living with disabilities, the impact is even more severe.
The lack of access to water increases open defecation in communities. This pollutes the environment, contaminates water sources, and exposes the community to diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery.
Understanding this problem, South Saharan Social Development Organization in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria constructed a 10,000-liter solar-powered borehole for the Persons with Disabilities Settlement in Karonmajigi, Abuja. The project was commissioned on the 13th of February 2024 with the Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, Lukas Schifferle, in attendance to open the project.
The team also constructed a 380-meter drainage to help channel out wastewater and prevent stagnation. Thus improving sanitation and hygiene in the community. The project looks to provide water to over 5,000 residents of the community. The intervention will reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhea.
Before now, the team conducted a two-day hygiene behavior change training for the community and inaugurated a WASH committee and voluntary hygiene promoters to guarantee the project’s sustainability. The WASHCOM which includes PWDs will manage the water resources and execute routine maintenance.
As part of the hygiene behavior change endeavor, the community communicated a need for educational materials on hygiene promotion. In response, we organized a photo shoot of community leaders engaging in various hygiene behaviors.
The photos were used to develop 20 permanent posters installed at various places around the community to serve as triggers for good hygiene.
