UNICEF Votes N960million To Fight Guinea
United
Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has selected Ebonyi
State as one of the beneficiaries of its Water Supply Sanitation
and Hygiene (WASH) programme to compliment the effort of the
government to stem the menace of guinea worm infestation among
its citizenry.
Seven other guinea worm endemic states across the
country, are to also benefit from the programme, estimated to
gulp about N960 million.
This came to light, at the launching of the
International Year of Sanitation (IYS) at Abakaliki Township
Stadium.
The UNICEF Assistant Country Representative, Ms
Pelosi Ntaberiwekei made the disclosure, saying that UNICEF was
collaborating with other development partners, including the
British Department for International Development (DFID), to
ensure the success of the programme.
She asked governments of the benefiting states to
strengthen their partnership with UNICEF through by fulfilling
their counterpart funding obligations, as that was the only way
other communities could also benefit from the WASH facilities.
Ntaberiwekei, represented by the Zonal WASH
Consultant for UNICEF A-Field, Office, Enugu, James Beetseh,
noted that water supply facilities would be provided in guinea
worm endemic communities, schools and other needy communities in
the listed states, within a year.
The state Governor, Martin Elechi, in his speech
stated that the launch of the IYS in the state would promote the
emancipation of the people from the clutches of
under-development resulting from poor water supply, hygiene and
sanitation practices.
NP/MICHAEL
