UNICEF calls for increased investment in water, sanitation, hygiene services in Nigeria
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that available statistics indicates that 78 million children in the country suffers from water related diseases.
This revelation was made by Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Enugu, while addressing newsmen on the 2023 World Water Day Celebration.
According to her, there is need for the federal and state government’s to invest more in safe drinking water, so as to create conducive environment and make life meaningful.
Mrs Chiluwe highlighted that access to safe drinking water requires adequate investment in building modern and sustainable water system.
Her words: “We are working with state government and other partners to ensure availability of water.
“If we continue with this pace, it will take 16 years for Nigeria to achieve access to safe water. We cannot wait that long, hence the need to increase in investment in water, sanitation and hygiene services.
“Some of the problem while some children are not enroll in school is traceable to water so availability of water will help protect children’s health.
“These children do not have availability of water in their community as we all know water affect growth of children.
“We call on all stakeholders to be involved in making water available because only one person does not have capacity to do it so all hands must be on deck to salvage the situation,” she submitted.
In his contribution, Mr Doutimiye Kiakubu, WASH Specialist, UNICEF Field Office Enugu, explained that the commemoration of world water day was to create awareness and broaden knowledge in respect of the importance of water to life and living.
“Water is important to health centre, education, nutrition, urban infrastructure and everything about development.
“Availability of water for consumption is very low, so we must always advocate for equitable and just distribution of water resources.
“Water must be available, when you need it and must be free from all forms of chemical components.”
