United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has organised a Bi-Annual Water, Sanitation and Hygine (WASH) Clinic in Adamawa State so as to reflect, review as well as discuss activities of its programs.
The WASH Clinic attracted relevant stakeholders in the water sector including the Water Consumer Associations (WCAs) involved in the implementation of Small Town Water, Sanitation and Hygine (ST WASH).
Currently, USAID which comprises Mercy Corps and Wateraid is implementing its programs in Viniklang community in Girei, Dumne in Song and Gangaraso/Sangasamu in Ganye Local Government Areas respectively in Adamawa state.
During the event, the Ministry of Water Resources Adamawa State inaugurated a 9-Member WASH Technical Committee with mandate to provide technical advice, oversight and ensure projects' effectiveness, efficiency as well as foster collaboration and innovation.
The committee which was inaugurated by the Commissioner Ministry of Water Resources, Hon. Audu Ayuba Tanko, is expected to contribute meaningfully towards driving the WASH sector in the state to greater success.
More so, the meeting which was held at the America University of Nigeria (AUN) hotel, provided opportunity for the WCAs of Viniklang, Dumne and Gangaraso/Sangasamu communities who presented their progress reports.
The WCAs presented their reports on successes recorded, challenges identified in the course of carrying out their activities after which cross section of participants asked questions, made observations and suggestions particularly on how to achieve more success and address those challenges.
Presenting his progress reports, the Chairman WCAs Viniklang who was represented by the Public Relations Officer (PRO I ), Usman Abubakar, disclosed that Viniklang now has an account number and can execute over N300,000 projects, and that it has opened a laundry to generate revenue.
He explained that they had employed a security guard to man their main office, and that they are now into disconnection, saying they were able to supply about 70 percent of the inhabitants of the community with water during recent blackout.
While presenting his report, the Chairman Dumne WCAs who was represented by Ishaya Kaduna Haruna, enumerated their achievements and the challenges being encountering.
However, he lamented the theft of solar powered panels, saying that they had employed 2 local security guards to prevent stealing and vandalisation of their facilities.
He told the gathering that Dumne community had condemned in totality the action of the hoodlums who stole the facilities, assuring that they are still investigating to arrest the perpetrators.
On his part, the Vice Chairman Ganye, Mohammed Abbo, who represented his Chairman, briefed the meeting on the revenue generated, expenditure, disconnection, sensitisation campaings on recent cholera outbreak which had ravaged some parts of the state among others.
Earlier, while highlighting the objectives of the meeting, the Head of Water Supply Small Town Water Resources and Sanitation Agency (STWSSA), Ibrahim S. Durkwa, said that the event was organised to assess level of progress on project implementation so far, identily challenges encountered and offer suggestions for improvement.
Durkwa further said that the meeting was organised to review the action plan developed during the previous WASH clinic session which was held on the 27 February 2014.
According to him, the meeting was organised to review the capacity and deployment of new skills learned at the refresher training for Local Area Mechanics conducted in May 2024 and to develop action plan on next step to improve performance and sustainability
He added that it was to review feedbacks gotten from series of meetings (community feedback session), collate lessons learnt and plough that back into planning, encourage participatory peer revew and cross- learning amongst the WCAs and other community structures.
In his comments, Eng. Yahaya Karaye, from Mercy Corps/Wateraid, lamented the theft of facilities particularly in Dunme, Song LGA, and advised more especially WCAs and host communities to safeguard all the projects sited in their catchment areas for the benefit of all.
Karaye, said that it will amount to a waste of time and resources if projects executed will not continue to serve communities after the closure of the program and warned against the vandalisation of facilities.
Speaking while inaugurating the committee, the Commissioner Ministry for Water Resources, Hon. Audu Ayuba Tanko, said that the committee represents a significant milestone in the state's journey towards progress and development.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Muhammed Ibrahim Auwal, said that the committee members are carefully selected from the Ministry, Board and its agencies.
According to him, the committee's expertise and guidance will be instrumental in shaping policies, programs, and projects, saying that their collective knowledge and experience will help in addressing challenges.
"As members of this committee, you have a critical role to play in providing technical advice and oversight, ensuring project effectiveness and efficiency and fostering collaboration and innovation.
"I charge you to approach this responsibility with dedication, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. Together, let us work towards a brighter future for Adamawa State", Hon. Audu said.
Responding on behalf of those inaugurated, the Project Manager STWSSA, Eng. Suleiman Shuaibu, disclosed that the function of the committee is to guide the government.
Eng. Suleiman, thanked the Commissioner for finding them worthy for the appointment and pledged the readiness of the committee towards justifying the confidence reposed in them.
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