Vote4WASH sensitises electorates to demand water, sanitation services from leaders

A campaign has been launched in Bauchi to sensitise electorates to demand provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene services from politicians vying for elections.

The campaign Vote4Wash was initiated by WaterAid Nigeria in collaboration with Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media to implement the ‎Strengthening Water Sanitation and Hygiene Delivery Systems ( SWADS) in Bauchi State.

The Vote4WASH team leader, Sukumun ‎Ezekiel said that the campaign is a project funded by Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation ( HSBC) designed to mobilise citizens to demand clean water, improved hygiene practices with the power of their votes.

"The concept of this campaign is to use the 2019 general election and post-election period as an opportunity to highlight and campaign for the availability and accessibility of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in Bauchi State,"he said.

He said that awareness campaigns, sensitisation meetings with stakeholders ‎, development of pledge cards and media engagement geared towards the success of the Vote4WASH campaign will be carried out under the project.

Ezekiel noted that, statistics have shown that in Bauchi State, 60.2 percent of households have access to improved water sources with only 13.6 percent of the households having them in their premises while sanitation access is poor at 57.1 percent and about 15 percent of households practice open Defecation.

According to him ‎rural water and sanitation access is poor as about 65 percent lack access.

The team leader informed that effects of poor WASH access in Bauchi ‎state has been monumental as it contribute to the high poverty rate put a 70.7 percent, diarrhea prevalence among children under five years, severe stunting of 35.7 percent.

"Child mortality rate of 87 deaths per 1000 live births and high maternal mortality rate (1,317 deaths per100,000 live births),"he added.

He said that the ‎project will seek the commitment of political parties and persons seeking elections to sign the Vote4WASH pledge card and follow upon promises made.