The Kano State Ministry of Water Resources, in collaboration with Self Help Africa and UNICEF, has carried out a review of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Policy and the Open Defecation (OD) Prohibition Bill.
The review aims to make necessary additions to the policy and bill in order to address identified gaps and align them with contemporary global best practices in the WASH sector.
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Some of the key areas incorporated into the review include Gender, Equity, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Climate Resilience, Sanitation in Fragile Contexts, Social Innovative Financing, Faecal Sludge Management, Area-Wide Sanitation, Market-Based Sanitation, and Safely Managed Sanitation.
Speaking during the session, UNICEF WASH Officer, Kano Field Office, Stella Okafor-Terver, explained that the objective of the review is to integrate emerging issues into the policy to make it child-friendly, equitable, and sensitive to federal and local priorities.
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She emphasized the importance of an implementation plan that ensures all relevant sectors such as health, education, and environment allocate WASH budgets with a strong focus on child welfare, including the provision of toilets and water facilities in primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and schools that meet the needs of girls and children.
“I am expecting that this policy will be approved by His Excellency, and I look forward to seeing all WASH-related programmes incorporate elements of child consciousness and welfare,” she said.
Okafor-Terver further noted that UNICEF has consistently supported the governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States in strengthening institutional WASH systems and frameworks.
Also speaking, Mr., Programme Manager of Self Help Africa, John Wali expressed optimism that the review will lead to the effective implementation of key recommendations outlined in the updated policy.
He explained that while the WASH Law has been in existence since 2023, it has yet to be signed, and the current review provides an opportunity to update the document to reflect current realities.
Mr. Wali added that Self Help Africa, with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has been at the forefront of supporting the Kano State Government in policy review, planning, and implementation within the WASH sector.