Schools To Get Water, Sanitation Facilities -Tilije

BY ROSEMARY NWAEBUNI
As Delta State joins the world to commemorate the Global Hand Washing Day, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Development, Sir Fidelis Tilije has said that the Governor Okowa administration was working assiduously to ensure that all schools were provided with sustainable water supply and sanitary facilities.
Tileje who stated this during the Global Hand Washing Day at Uzoigwe Primary School, Asaba revealed that October 15 every year was set aside for the celebration of the occasion aimed at increasing awareness on the importance of hand washing with soap in order to prevent diseases and save lives.
While stating that cleanliness was next to godliness, he noted that researches proved that hand washing before and after every activity daily helps to promote healthy living and prevent sickness and diseases by 50 per cent, adding that hand washing should not be restricted to observing it before eating, but before and after every activity.
He noted that the human body was constantly in contact with many micro organisms which may not be seen with the eyes, adding that those organisms whether water borne or air borne were capable of causing sicknesses and diseases and sometimes lead to deaths.
Presenting a lecture on the health benefits of hand washing, the Director of Primary Health Care, Dr. Michael Ebinum defined hand washing as the process of cleaning the hands with or without the use of water for the purpose of removing dirt, soiling or contaminations.
He noted that the body houses some micro organisms which may or may not be harmful, adding that those harmful ones could lead to infections like polio, diarrhea and warm infections. “Hand washing is important to prevent the harmful micro organisms from causing infections and sicknesses. It helps in improving our life span”, he revealed.
The General Manager of the ministry, Engr. Blessing Edewor in his remarks disclosed that the choice of school children for the programme was the fact that they remain agents of change as they have the capacity to influence their peers, siblings and parents on the importance of hand washing.
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) representative, Engr. Ubom Ekanem in his goodwill message said that UNICEF has been working in Nigeria for over six decades, adding that key areas of their work include supporting children’s education, accelerating efforts that reduce infant and child mortality.
Meanwhile to ensure ready availability and stainable portable water supply to all Deltans, the state government has redeemed its N404 million share of her counterpart fund of European Union Assisted Niger Delta Support Programme for Water and Sanitation.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources and Development, Sir Fidelis Tilije, revealed this at the occasion of the Global Hand Washing celebrated at the Uzoigwe Primary School in Asaba.
He acknowledged that although, water has not been made readily available to all and sundry, but assured that the Okowa administration was working seriously to ensure availability of portable water supply to all Deltans.
He said that Governor Okowa has paid completely the sum of N404 million, the state’s share of the counterpart fund for European Union Assisted Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP) for Water and Sanitation.
He revealed that the European Union (EU) will contribute the sum of N2.75 billion for the programme, adding that the Okowa administration was already partnering with the United Nations International Children Fund (UNICEF) to ensure the provision of clean water to the citizens if the State.
The State coordinator of the European Union Assisted Niger Delta Support Program (NDSP), Prof. Otun Johnson commended the governor for his magnanimity in providing the State’s share of the fund.