By Sulaiman Idris, Abuja
As part of activities marking this year world water day, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), will hold a one-day awareness campaign on safe and sustainable water in Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa.
A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Chichi Nnoham-Onyejekwe, PIND’s Knowledge and Communications Manager stated that the Foundation which is funded by Chevron Corporation, will partner with the Rotary Club of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and P&G International to host the public enlightenment event at the Township School, Ovom, Yenagoa on Thursday, March 22.
It explained that the aim of the event is to raise awareness on the issues and solutions to safe and sustainable water among local community and government stakeholders in the Niger Delta and inspire action in adoption of practices and models that meet the globally accepted standards for sustainable access to water.
According to the statement, over 100 students and teachers from the local community, Rotary Clubs, Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Bayelsa State Government, and other development partners, will create public awareness on the nexus between water, livelihoods and the resources for growth and development in the Niger Delta.
They will also showcase some locally appropriate and readily available technologies for making water safe for use at the household and community level.
’’Access to safe and clean water resources and good water management practices are huge issues in the Niger Delta.
“This contributes to very high water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) related disease burden with its attendant health and economic impacts. Better WASH practices and facilities would help reduce the disease burden and ultimately improve productivity in the region’’ Nnoham-Onyejekwe said
The statement went further to explain that the public awareness event which derives its theme from the 2018 World Water Day theme of ‘Nature of Water’ will feature presentations on the need for behaviour change as a means of protecting water resources in the Niger Delta.
It will share insights on what PIND and partners have learnt from implementing nature-based solutions on access to sustainable water interventions that could be replicated and scaled up by more stakeholders.
“This would be followed by a robust reflection session on the ‘Nature of Water’ and a demonstration of simple water purifying technologies for students and teachers who play a critical role as change agents for the wider community.”
