WaterAid, Latter-day Saint Charities launch $300,000 project for improved access to clean water in Lagos

Posted by
Jeff Greene
on
2 February 2023
In
Individuals, Employees and companies, West Africa, United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Water, Education, Hygiene, Girls and women, Health, Maternal health
Ukwan, 14, student and Vice President of the Environmental Health Club outside the boys toilets at Trans Ekulu River Primary School, Trans Ekulu River Community, Enugu State, Nigeria, October 2018.
Image: WaterAid/ Tom Saater

February 2, 2023 (New York, NY) — WaterAid, with support from Latter-day Saints Charities (LDSC), is launching and expanding its ‘Strengthening Water and Sanitation Delivery’ project in Nigeria to boost water and sanitation delivery in Ikorodu North and Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos state by providing increased access to clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene behavior in target communities in the state.

The $300,000 project is expected to reach about 10,500 people with improved access to clean water, safely managed sanitation services, and key hygiene behavior change promotion in target communities over the next 12 months.

Evelyn Mere, Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, while speaking on Thursday at the launch of the project in Ojodu LCDA secretariat, said that the project will combine key strategies including service delivery interventions, hygiene behavior change approaches, and institutional strengthening to address acute water and sanitation needs for vulnerable and marginalized communities in the state.

She said a lack of access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services disproportionately affects people with disabilities, women and girls, who spend hours each day fetching water, unable to work or go to school.

Women and girls continue to bear the brunt of lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Without proper sanitation facilities, girls who have reached puberty often drop out of school altogether and many women and girls face an increased risk of danger and gender-based violence because of a lack of water and toilets close to home.

It is only fair that we all work together to build a world where no woman is forced to waste her time walking and queuing for hours to collect water.

WaterAid believes that sustained transformational change can be achieved through expanded access to water, sanitation and hygiene. This will enable people to lead healthier lives and fulfill their potential.
Evelyn Mere, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria

She added, "While we commend the government’s efforts in WASH service delivery and systems strengthening, we call for double investments in clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene so that we can build sustainable, resilient services and communities that can deliver health and dignity for all and ensure everyone, especially children and pregnant and nursing mothers in our society, has the chance of a healthy and secure future.” 

David Odunmbaku, Ojodu LCDA Chairman, said in his address that the project would complement the LCDA’s resolve to improving the health and wellbeing of the people as captured in its Health, Education, Youth Empowerment and Social Infrastructure (HEYS) mission, which are Based on the state's THEMES agenda and the UN's global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The provision of clean water and proper sanitation is a fundamental human right that should never be taken for granted. It is our duty as leaders to ensure that every member of our community has access to these vital resources. With this project, we aim to make a lasting impact and demonstrate our dedication to improving the lives of those we serve.

This launch marks a milestone in our journey to create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable community.
David Odunmbaku, Ojodu LCDA Chairman

Speaking further he said the WASH project will bring a new level of improvement in the health and hygiene of the community, that clean water and proper sanitation facilities will not only reduce the spread of waterborne diseases but will also raise the standard of living for all who live here.

“We are confident that this project will play a significant role in the economic and social growth of our community,” he added.

WaterAid is an international nonprofit working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a reality for everyone, everywhere within a generation. WaterAid works in more than 30 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalized people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 29 million people with clean water, 29 million people with decent toilets and 28 million people with good hygiene.

Visit WaterAid to learn more

Statistics

  • 750 million people in the world – one in ten – do not have clean water close to home.
  • Two billion people in the world – almost one in four – do not have a decent toilet of their own.
  • Around 310,000 children under five die every year from diarrheal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That's around 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes. 

Every $2 invested in water and toilets returns an average of $8 in increased productivity.

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