Ekiti trains community WASH committee on emvironmental social safeguard impact

Ekiti State Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme, has organised a two-day training programme for WASH directors, members of Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs), Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMs), and Water Consumer Associations (WCAs) across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The capacity-building workshop, designed to strengthen community participation, sustainability and ownership of SURWASH projects and ensuring effective implementation of the programme in the state.

In his welcome address, the state programme coordinator of SURWASH, Steven Adewunmi, emphasised the importance of the training to the long-term success of the SURWASH initiative.

“This training is designed to help us understand our responsibilities in sustaining access to clean water and improved sanitation. It is also a platform for open dialogue, where everyone can raise concerns and share ideas that will make the programme a success,” he stated.

He urged participants to take ownership of SURWASH projects in their communities and ensure proper maintenance for sustainability of all facilities constructed under the programme.

Also, the SURWASH Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the state, Mr. Olorunfemi Olatunji explained the key Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) used to assess the progress of the project to participants

He highlighted DLI 5, which focuses on households provided with improved sanitation facilities, and DLI 6, which tracks communities that have achieved and sustained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.

“A house without a toilet is an incomplete project. Our goal is to ensure that every household has improved sanitation, and every community achieves ODF status that is maintained over time,” he stated.

Olatunji also touched on other SURWASH objectives, such as expanding access to clean water, ensuring gender balance and improving WASH facilities in schools and healthcare centres.

On the project specifications standards, the Small Town Engineer, Olajide Olatilu stressed the importance of adhering strictly to construction specifications for toilets, boreholes, hand washing basin and other WASH facilities.

He urged the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee members to act as on-site monitors SURWASH project sites across the state to prevent shortcuts by contractors.

“Every facility must meet specification and report any contractor who cuts corners. Our duty is to ensure what we build is safe, durable and fit for purpose,” he said.

He further highlighted gender-separated toilets, disability ramps, and mandatory signposts on all completed facilities.

The SURWASH sanitation officer, Mrs. Bunmi Olaseeni, spoke on the crucial roles of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee members and Water Consumers Association in promoting good hygiene practices.

She explained how poor sanitation and open defecation contaminate water sources, farms and food, spreading dangerous diseases.

She emphasized handwashing, personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness.

 Speaking on Environmental and Social Safeguards, the Programme Environmental Officer ,Mrs. Tolu Osun