By Omolara Akintoye
The Executive Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. David Olusegun Odunmbaku has indicated his willingness to support (WASH) projects for the betterment of the constituents and posterity.
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He said this at a 3-day capacity building workshop organized by WaterAid/Kimberly-Clark to further strengthen the advocacy for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) which was held at Amber Residence, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
While further establishing his commitment, Odunmbaku who spoke through his Media Aide, Mr. Akorede Brown reiterated the efforts of his administration at putting the Health and Hygiene of the citizens at the core of the HEYS (Health, Education, Youth Empowerment and Social Infrastructure) Agenda.
Banwo stated that since the inception of his administration about a year ago, Odunmbaku has carried out the revamping and rehabilitation of the Seven (7) Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs) within the LCDA with the provision of 24hrs services and competent health personnel, construction of public toilets, Provision of Prostate Cancer/Cervical screening, endearing Public Private Partnership for subventions and capacity building amongst others.
The WASH advocacy workshop was necessitated by the need to adequately strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders who are responsible for the actualization of the 6th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly at the grassroots. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene are the hearts upon which other SDGs lie.
According to Head of Advocacy, Policy and Communications, WaterAid, Mr. Kolawole Banwo, ‘despite being one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa, access to life-saving water, sanitation and hygiene services in this emerging urban costal city remains inadequate. This poor access consequently impacts health, productivity, household economy, and the protection of women and girls negatively’.
Thus, Ojodu and Ikorodu North LCDAs were selected to pilot the Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement (SHIP) project in Lagos State based on their Peri-urban and rural peculiarities respectively. Subsequently, the project would be replicated in other LCDAs/LGs as well as in other States of the Federation.
Conclusively, participants at the workshop were enlightened on the need for sustenance of WASH projects, how to effectively and efficiently harness available resources for productivity, how to influence other key stakeholders for behaviour change and how to ensure proper communication and information management as facilitated by WaterAid Communications & Media Manager, Oluseyi Abdulmalik, Project Manager, Nanbam Michael, National Chairman WASH Media, Mr. Kola Elekolusi and Mr. Michael Simire of Environews.
