Heineken Foundation, WaterAid Nigeria begin second phase hygiene project against COVID-19

The Heineken Foundation Africa has extended its partnership with WaterAid to support the second phase of the Scale-Up Hygiene project.

The project, initially launched by WaterAid Nigeria in 2020, was part of its COVID -19 response intervention helping vulnerable communities protect themselves against the spread of the disease.

The second phase of the project is set to be implemented in Bauchi, Enugu, and Oyo states.

The second phase of the project will focus on consolidating on the wins of the first phase and ramping up existing hygiene promotion interventions and campaigns to increase access to improved hygiene.

It is also to reduce the spread of the virus, and support national and sub-national governments to integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene in their COVID-19 response and vaccination strategy.

Evelyn Mere, Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, said, “With emerging new variants of the coronavirus, thousands of people are exposed to the risk of contracting the disease. Whilst the world has urgently risen to the challenge of COVID -19 by introducing vaccine administration, every year hundreds of thousands of lives are silently lost because of lack of clean water, decent toilets, and hygiene.

“There is no doubt that urgent actions to sustain access to water, sanitation and hygiene are needed as a long-term strategy to fighting against disease spread and warding off future pandemics.

“With the major achievements recorded from the first phase of the project, we are expectant that the second phase of the project will deliver on strengthening government structures for better water, sanitation, and hygiene access.

“Having these basic human rights in place helps to stop infectious diseases in its tracks and helps vulnerable communities build back better from economic downturns inflicted by the pandemic.

“The government must respond now to providing infrastructure that sustains water, sanitation and hygiene at all levels, especially given its vital role in preventing disease spread and ensuring pandemic preparedness against future disease outbreaks.

Also, ”Sade Morgan, Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc/Heineken Nigeria said, “There is concrete proof that good hygiene habits are critical in the eradication of diseases and, COVID-19 is no different. Heineken is proud to be supporting the phase II of the Scale-Up Hygiene project with WaterAid Nigeria as part of our response to COVID-19.

“By building on the success of phase 1 of the project, we are optimistic that there will be a greater positive impact on the health and general wellbeing of the selected communities.”