By Khalid Idris Doya
The Bauchi state government has flagged off an Open Defecation-Free (ODF) campaign and cholera prevention advocacy in Tafawa Balewa local government area as part of efforts to eradicate open defecation and curb the spread of preventable diseases across communities.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on Tuesday in Tafawa Balewa LGA funded by the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) project, implemented by WaterAid, the state Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving sanitation and hygiene practices across the state through stronger collaboration with traditional institutions, development partners, and grassroots stakeholders.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dauda Yakubu Mahmud, the commissioner described the advocacy campaign as a significant step toward reducing the spread of cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, and other sanitation-related diseases, particularly among women and children.
Dambam explained that the campaign is aimed at strengthening public awareness, encouraging behavioural change, and deepening collaboration among government agencies, traditional rulers, community stakeholders, and development partners to achieve open defecation-free communities.
According to him, Governor Bala Mohammed has directed several interventions to tackle sanitation-related health challenges and recurring cholera outbreaks in the state.
Speaking on behalf of WaterAid Nigeria, the State Task Team Lead, Mashat Mallo, called on stakeholders in Tafawa Balewa to intensify efforts toward ending open defecation and curbing recurring cholera outbreaks through improved sanitation, hygiene promotion, and sustainable community-led initiatives.
Represented by WaterAid's Business Development Officer, Kasim Alex Shuaibu, Mallo, explained that the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) project focuses on scaling up household sanitation facilities and improving hygiene services in public places, including worship centres, markets, motor parks, and other institutions.
According to him, Tafawa Balewa was selected as one of the project implementation hotspots because of its vulnerability to cholera outbreaks in Bauchi State.
Mallo noted that WaterAid had previously supported the Bauchi State Government through the Ministries of Water Resources and Health in efforts to contain cholera outbreaks in affected communities.
He further explained that the project also promotes waste-to-wealth initiatives designed to create economic opportunities, especially for women and girls.
According to him, the initiative also seeks to convert waste from sewage systems into organic fertiliser and biogas for cooking, while supporting the construction of sustainable and resilient sanitation infrastructure in participating local government areas.
He revealed that out of the 806 communities in Tafawa Balewa LGA, only 21 communities have so far been certified open defecation-free.
However, Mallo expressed concern over the wide gap remaining in achieving the target of ending open defecation and eradicating cholera in the area.
He identified sustainability as one of the major challenges facing the project, particularly in ensuring that trained sanitation entrepreneurs, waste evacuators, and WASH committees continue their activities beyond the project lifespan.
According to him, assessments conducted in communities revealed that many residents lack the financial capacity to construct basic sanitation facilities, posing a serious threat to public health.
He warned that the absence of toilets in even a single household could contribute significantly to the spread of cholera within communities.
Mallo added that similar mobilisation efforts are ongoing in other implementing local government areas, including Misau and Jama’are, as part of broader efforts to achieve open defecation-free status and eliminate cholera in Bauchi State.
He reaffirmed WaterAid's commitment to supporting communities toward achieving sustainable sanitation goals and building healthier, cleaner, and more resilient societies.
Also speaking, the acting managing director of the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Bala Zailani, said several activities had been successfully implemented under the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund project to accelerate the attainment of ODF status and improve sanitation practices in Tafawa Balewa communities.
He disclosed that 21 communities had already been certified as open defecation-free, while 148 communities had successfully passed third-level verification and were awaiting certification.
According to him, 217 communities are awaiting second-level verification, while 158 communities are awaiting first-level verification.
Zailani, however, expressed concern that about 260 communities in the local government area are still practising open defecation, a situation he said continues to hinder the attainment of ODF status across the LGA.
On his part, the Gung Zaar, Mr. Marcus Koko Yake, pledged the full support of the traditional institution toward achieving and sustaining open defecation-free status across communities in Tafawa Balewa LGA.
The monarch commended the collaboration among the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, RUWASA, BASEPA, and WaterAid Nigeria, describing the partnership as a major step toward improving sanitation and hygiene practices within communities.
He noted that cooperation and partnership remain essential to achieving meaningful development, particularly in public health and environmental sanitation.
The royal father charged district heads and community leaders within his domain to intensify awareness campaigns and supervision to ensure the success of the programme.
He urged traditional leaders to work closely with residents to encourage the construction and proper use of toilets in order to meet the open defecation-free target within the stipulated period.
The monarch further stressed that sustainability remains a critical aspect of the campaign, noting that communities must not only adopt improved sanitation practices but also sustain them beyond the duration of the intervention programme.
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