By Muawiya Bala Idris, Katsina
A non-governmental organisation, Save the Children International (SCI), has called on the Federal Government to increase funding and accelerate the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) strategies across the country.
The call was contained in a statement issued to journalists in Katsina to commemorate the African Child Day, themed “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Children in Africa.”
According to the statement, increased funding for WASH programmes has become necessary as more than 70 per cent of Nigerian children lack access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
“Millions of children in Nigeria wake up every day without clean water to drink, a safe toilet to use, or a place to wash their hands,” the statement said.
It noted that the situation highlights a critical challenge facing the country, where access to water, sanitation and hygiene remains far from universal, particularly for children.
The organisation added that the lack of WASH facilities continues to affect children’s health, education and dignity.
“In schools, limited access to water and sanitation facilities continues to disrupt learning. Many children miss school due to illness, while others, especially girls, stay at home,” the statement added.
SCI further stated that unsafe drinking water increases children’s vulnerability to diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid fever.
According to the statement, available data indicate that diarrhoeal diseases claim the lives of more than 70,000 children under the age of five in Nigeria every year.
The organisation stressed the need for development partners and donor agencies to promote sustainable investment in WASH programmes as a lasting solution to the problem.
It also called on communities to adopt improved hygiene practices and support efforts to end open defecation, while urging the private sector to drive innovation and expand access to clean water through strategic partnerships.