As part of effort aimed at ensuring Nigeria achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status by 2025, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) and Network of Female Professionals in WASH (FEMinWASH) has collaborated in accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies.
The President, Network of Female Professionals in WASH (FEMinWASH) Dr Mrs Bolu Onabolu led the team at a courtesy call to the Registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Mohammed in Abuja.
Also, the collaboration which aimed at accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies will be done by leveraging about 40,000 of the Environmental Health Officers at all levels with the statutory powers of the Council to promote WASH and promulgate Public health related edicts and enforce laws.
The duo agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be developed to formalize the partnership between the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria and the Network of Female Professionals in WASH.
Also, there will be brokering and fostering relationships that harness the huge potential of the Council to contributing to moving sanitation and hygiene access forward in Nigeria.
“Capacity building Leveraging and extending the reach of the National Resource Center of the Council which houses the best E-Learning Platform in the country”
Furthermore, the duo will leverage on the skills of the member organizations and individuals that are members of the Network whilst the council will make it mandatory for all female EHOs in Nigeria to be members of FEMinWASH and also develop an associate membership for FEMinWASH members to register with the council.
The collaboration which aimed at accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies will be done by leveraging about 40,000 of the Environmental Health Officers at all levels with the statutory powers of The Council to promote WASH and promulgate Public health related edicts and enforce laws.
In her own remark, the President FEMinWASH, Dr Bolu Onabolu ,emphasised the need to scale up intervention on the more than 40 million Nigerians who are still practising open defecation and bringing more female professional participation in WASH in Nigeria .
Chairman ,WASHSmedia Network , Mr Wale Elekolusi also emphasis the need to create more awareness for the people at the grassroot to understand the importance of open defecation free,ODF, society ,as he outlined some of the work of the network in some community and IDPs camp.
Former Special Adviser to the Minister of Environment, Dr Mrs, Pricilla Achakpa reiterated the commitment of the newtwork of Female professional in WASH to support the ECHON in capacity building in proposal writing to access more fund and resources from interested international agencies.
