In a strategic move to bolster public health in Udenu Local Government Area, Chairman Aka Eze Aka convened an interactive session with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program officers at the Legislative wing of the Udenu LG Secretariat.
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The gathering drew representatives from all 10 political wards and 31 autonomous communities within the LGA, underscoring a collective commitment to enhancing hygiene and sanitation standards. Barr. Dominic Obetta, Local Government Coordinator of the program, emphasized the crucial role of rigorous personal hygiene and environmental sanitation practices in disease control.
Obetta stressed the importance of regular handwashing habits, urging officers to lead by example within their communities. The WASH program, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to eradicate open defecation and poor hygiene practices in local communities.
The program focuses on educating communities, particularly school children, on basic sanitation and hygiene practices, and providing water and sanitation infrastructure projects in Udenu and beyond. This initiative is rooted in lessons learned during the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990), which highlighted disparities in accessing safe drinking water versus sanitation services.
With the WASH program targeting over 1.1 billion people lacking access to safe water and 2.6 billion lacking adequate sanitation, local officers were tasked with playing a vital role. Chairman Aka Eze Aka challenged them to disseminate WASH principles across Udenu.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure every community member understands the importance of sanitation and hygiene, the first step in disease control,” Aka stated. He also urged officers to support Governor Peter Mbah’s WASH initiatives to attract essential resources, such as boreholes and sanitary facilities.
“My administration is committed to honoring our partnership. Together, we can attract state and WHO resources to enhance our community’s health standards,” Aka affirmed. Councillors Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Odoh and Hon. Patrick, along with Hon. Onyekachi C. Ugwu and Dr. Jude Okwudili, accompanied the Chairman.
This interactive engagement marks a significant step towards driving behavioral change at the grassroots level, fostering a healthier, more sustainable Udenu. By embracing the WASH initiative, local leaders will enhance community health and wellbeing, laying a solid foundation for future sanitation and hygiene advancements.