The Oyo State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Lagos Field Office have urged residents of the State to recommit to the practice of proper hand washing method.

According to the statement signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Oyo State, the Chairman, Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA), Mr. Babalola Afobaje stated this at an event in Okolo, Ibarapa-East Local Government to commemorate the  Year 2024 Global Hand-washing Day, with the theme “Why are Clean Hands still Important?”.

He emphasized the life-saving importance of hand-washing with soap, calling it a health necessity that prevents the spread of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Afobaje noted that significant progress has been made by the Government in promoting hygiene in Oyo State, through different efforts, with the support of UNICEF and other developmental partners.

Afobaje therefore added that it is essential to maintain and improve hand-washing practices beyond public health emergencies.

He acknowledged the support of partners such as UNICEF and Sato Lixil in promoting health hygiene in Oyo State.

The Chairman also called on the media to play a critical role in spreading the message of hand-washing to nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

“Each of us has a role to play in making hand-washing a universal practice,” he said.

“Handwashing with soap is an important prevention for sanitation-related diseases. It will prevent us in Oyo State, particularly Ibarapa-East local Government from getting sick,” the Chairman noted.

In his own words, UNICEF Water and Sanitation (WASH) Specialist, Mr. Monday Johnson stressed that Ibarapa-East local Government is  very key in hand-washing campaign, adding that this is why the 2024 global event is celebrated in Okolo.

Johnson said hand-washing practice prevents disease outbreaks and reduces the impact of future pandemics.

He also highlighted its role in combating pandemics and supporting efforts to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

The UNICEF Specialist acknowledged that some parts of Ibarapa-East still lack access to toilet facilities, adding that UNICEF hopes to end open defecation in Ibarapa-East local Government very soon through the support of RUWASSA and Sato Lixil.

He appealed to market men and women, teachers, parents and guardians to push for hand-washing practices in their homes.

The Director, Community Mobilisation and Hygiene Education, OYORUWASSA, Mr. Adegoke Ayodele called on parents and all stakeholders to key into the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target, which focuses on access to water and sanitation.

He said parents and teachers must accelerate efforts to improve hygiene services in the State.

“Help the Oyo State Government amplify hygiene messages and inspire your children to take responsibility for their health and the health of others,” he said.

Adegoke urged all stakeholders to take concrete actions to ensure universal hand hygiene.

To commemorate the 2024 Global Handwashing Day on October 15, the Director, Environmental Health Services, Ibarapa East LGA, Mrs. Elizabeth Akintola demonstrated hand washing techniques in the presence of school pupils and parents present.

The event was attended by the Vice-chairman, Ibarapa-East Local Government, Hon. Olakunle Jacob, who led other members of the local Government to the event.

Also in attendance were the General Manager, OYORUWASSA, Mr. Mumeeni Adeduntan; Director Environmental Services, Ministry of Environment and Natural resources, Mrs. Bukola Areo; representative of Sato Lixil, Michael Adegbe; traditional rulers and residents of the town.

In line with Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration ongoing rural and urban development agenda, aimed at improving overall water quality across the 33 local government areas.

The Chairman of Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA), AIhaji Babalola Afobaje has commenced distribution of water testing kits and household water purification tablets to prevent water-borne diseases.

According to him, “this initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that households, particularly in rural areas, have access to safe and clean drinking water.”

“These steps underscore Makinde commitment in addressing water challenges and enhancing public health through better water sanitation practices.”

Afobaje stressed that, household water purification tablets are to be used in stemming any outbreak of communicable diseases.

He implored LGAs to do what needs to be done to protect the lives of these vulnerable groups by preventing the menace of communicable diseases in Oyo State.

“Unsafe water and poor sanitation are major sources of deadly communicable diseases and enjoined all and sundry to be proactive as Makinde administration is working assiduously to eradicate disease outbreaks in the State,” he concluded.

The Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA) has partnered with UNICEF and LIXIL representatives from Kenya to ensure SATO PAN toilets are installed across the State, towards eliminating open defecation in the State by 2028.

While speaking during the inspection of some communities at Egbeda and Ona Ara axis of Ibadan, the Chairman of the Agency, Hon Babalola Afobaje commended Governor Seyi Makinde and UNICEF for their unwavering support in fostering a clean and healthy environment, particularly for children.

The Chairman assured that the agency’s sanitation efforts would benefit both urban and rural residents, promoting the use of SATO PAN toilets to achieve this goal.

Speaking also during the inspection, the General Manager, OYORUWASSA, Mr. Adeduntan Mumeen, stressed the importance of SATO PAN toilets as a swift solution to the open defecation challenge

He reiterated that Oyo State would attain open defecation-free status through the collaborative efforts of all relevant stakeholders.

UNICEF WASH Specialist, Mr. Monday Johnson, emphasized that increased access to SATO PAN toilets would lead to a healthier environment and ultimately end open defecation in the State.

He urged stakeholders to educate the public on the benefits of maintaining a clean environment and praised OYORUWASSA, LGAs, and Toilet Business Owners (TBOs) for their contributions to this cause.

Similarly, representative from LIXIL Organisation, Mr. Samuel Langat stated that the use of SATO PAN toilets is essential for living in a clean environment.

Langat said that the team’s visit was aimed at engaging critical stakeholders and Toilets business owners (TBOs) regarding the sales, installation, and usage of SATO products.

He added that by 2030, everyone should have access to smart toilets through the use of SATO products.

Present at the event were Directors of Sanitation Egbeda LGA, Mrs. Victoria Baale, and Ona Ara LGA, Mrs. Rashidat Popoola.

The Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) on Monday, donated Motorcycles, Ahuja Speakers, Sanitary items to ten (10) Local Government areas in the State.

The contribution is part of activities to mark 100 days in office of the Chairman, RUWASSA, Alh. Babalola Afobaje.

The items included 100 Ahuja Speakers, 6 motorcycles (2 each for Egbeda, Ona-Ara and Ibarapa-East local governments) and sanitary items to be distributed based on selection criteria in 10 Local Government areas.

Afobaje said that the presentation of the items was aimed at ensuring a complete end to open defecation in the councils, as well as communities in the State.

Reeling out his achievements in the past 100 days, Alh. Afobaje said the agency has enjoyed tremendous support from UNICEF in its efforts to end open defecation in Egbeda, Ona-Ara and Ibarapa-East.

He added that under his supervision, the Agency has drilled Solar boreholes across some local governments in the State.

Afobaje added that the purpose of the donation was to support the efforts of local government areas in ending open defecation.

He urged the authorities to ensure timely distribution of the items to the beneficiaries.

Afobaje noted that the Agency’s partnership with UNICEF had, to a large extent, impacted the lives of people of the State positively.

Alh. Afobaje commended Gov. Seyi Makinde for his unwavering support for the agency, which has attracted international partnerships with UNICEF and other donors.

In his remark, the Chairman, Egbeda Local government area, Hon. Sikiru Sanda expressed appreciation to RUWASSA for the gesture.

He called on other international partners, donors, NGOs, corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to emulate RUWASSA’s gesture of responding to the needs of the less-privileged in order to ameliorate their sufferings.

He assured that all the items received would be used for the exact purpose for which they were intended.

The affected local governments include: Egbeda, Ibarapa East, Ogo-oluwa, Iseyin, Oluyole, Ibadan South East, Ona-ara, among others.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has commissioned a newly-purchased water drilling rig at the State Secretariat in Ibadan on Monday.

The drilling rig with compressor, mounted on a Lealand Trailer did a test drilling of a borehole close to the old House of Assembly Complex in the State Secretariat.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Olawale Mogbonjubola said issues relating to water sufficiency would be a paramount area of interest to the present administration, which led to the overhauling of the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYRUWASSA).

He hinted that the rig was the first to be purchased by any Government in Oyo State and would be put to maximum use by the agency.

“The Governor is happy for the history we are making today, as this is the first drilling rig with compressor to be purchased by any administration in Oyo State.

“It signifies the fact that water sufficiency will be our target, especially at the grassroot, our people will no more suffer lack of portable water and health consequences.”

In his welcome address, the Chairman OYRUWASSA, Engr. Najeem Omirinde said he was happy for the gesture of the State Government in procuring the drilling rig.

Omirinde hinted that the agency already started drilling of boreholes at strategic places like schools, markets, parks and other areas which would take care of basic water needs of the people.

He enjoined the people of the State to continue giving their support to the State Government so as to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

Dignitaries at the event include the member, House of Assembly Committee on Water, Hon. Alabanla Adekunle, Commissioner for Health and Water Resources, Barr. Idowu Oyeleke, Chairman, Oyo State House of Assembly Commission, Hon. Musah AbdulWasi.

Others are members of the OYORUWASSA board among who are Engr. Abu Salam, Hon. Olayiwola and Evangelist Ayobami Sunday.

Signed:

Wasiu Olatubosun (P.hd),

Hon. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Ibadan.