By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Oyo state government has trained facilitators on Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMs) Formation and Training in readiness for community-led total sanitation implementation to drive all communities in Ibarapa-East local government area to Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
The training of Trainers (ToT) programme held at Plaza de Aruna Hotel Oyo Town, Oyo State.
The 5-day workshop organized in partnership with the United Nations Children Education Funds (UNICEF) was declared open by the Chairman of the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, (OYORUWASSA), Babalola Afobaje.
He appreciated the efforts of the state government and the technical and funding supports of UNICEF at ending open defecation and ensuring healthier citizens for socio-economic development of the state.
The Chairman specifically applauded the efforts of the present administration in the state for its efforts in curbing outbreak of any form of epidemics.
He called for collaboration among all communities at ensuring an overall improvement in the general health and sanitation of Ibarapa-East and the state as a whole.
Also speaking, the UNICEF WASH Specialist, Mr. Monday Johnson, said the participants will form and train WASHCOMs members who will ensure that their respective communities in Ibarapa-East LGA become open defecation-free and sustain it.
He added that at the end, hygiene practices, such as regular hand washing, must be inculcated as preventive measures to curb the spread of diseases.
Also, the WASHCOMs would ensure that every child in Ibarapa-East LGA is known to government through birth registration on National Population Commission.
The Director for Sanitation, Mrs. Obayemi Titilayo, said the major aim of formation and training of WASHCOMs in every community is to achieve ODF and sustainability of community WASH facilities such as community water points and also to reduce or completely eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in endemic communities of Ibarapa-East LGA and the State as whole.
She said 42 facilitators in the committees formation were trained.
She added that the WASHCOMs are also expected to continuously sensitize and create awareness at their various communities on the importance of child birth registration.
