By Adesewa George
The Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) says it has commenced a targeted intervention to address slippage and sustain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue.
An official of NEWSAN, Ms Bibian Ama, said this in a statement following an inception meeting held in Tongov Ward.
Ama said the initiative, Community-Led Change Makers for Sustained ODF, also known as the Voice Change-Makers Project, aims to identify causes of relapse and develop practical solutions.
She said the implementation team comprised the NEWSAN State Coordinator in Benue, Joy Ijuwo, alongside herself and Ruth During from the organisation’s National Secretariat.
According to her, the meeting had 42 participants, including 20 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM) members, 10 opinion leaders, 10 community leaders, two local guards, and two LGA officials.
Ama said the meeting enabled stakeholders to examine causes of ODF slippage and propose practical solutions for restoring and sustaining sanitation gains.
She said community members acknowledged responsibility for the setback and expressed readiness to regain and sustain ODF status.
Ama identified key challenges to include lack of post-ODF government support, unfulfilled water supply promises, weak enforcement of sanitation bye-laws, and absence of follow-up training.
She added that participants also cited inadequate incentives for WASHCOM members, poor durability of toilets, weak monitoring by the LGA, and limited sanitation-related skills.
Ama said concerns were also raised about inequitable distribution of amenities and lack of support for sanitation-related businesses.
She said stakeholders proposed capacity building on improved toilet construction, incentives for sanitation volunteers, and stronger enforcement of sanitation bye-laws.
According to her, participants also called for refresher training, improved monitoring by local authorities, and access to loans for sanitation entrepreneurs.
Ama said the community stressed the need for sustained post-ODF engagement to prevent further slippage and ensure long-term behaviour change.
She said the Ward Head pledged support for efforts to address the challenges, noting the need for continuous engagement to sustain earlier gains.
Ama said the team also conducted advocacy visits to key government stakeholders to strengthen institutional support for ODF sustainability.
She said the Tarka LGA WASH Coordinator, Mrs Rose Gbande, acknowledged gaps in post-ODF monitoring due to inadequate budgetary allocation.
According to her, Gbande expressed optimism over plans to upgrade the WASH Unit into a full department to improve funding and operational capacity.
Ama said the team also engaged the General Manager, Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Mr Tony Mkpen, who pledged support.
She said Mkpen disclosed that the state had reviewed its ODF roadmap and that a bill to upgrade WASH Units was before the State House of Assembly.
According to her, the reform is expected to enhance budgetary allocation and strengthen sanitation service delivery across LGAs.
Ama added that the team emphasised the need for sustained government ownership of ODF interventions, noting that long-term sustainability rests with government institutions. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
