WaterAid Nigeria in collaboration with Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Tuesday, unveiled the newly renovated and rehabilitated Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities at Ogba Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC).
Newsmen reports that the renovation was carried out under the Kimberly Clark funded integrated Hygiene and Health Project (I-HHP).
Speaking at the event, the Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Ms Evelyn Mere, said the project would be impacting 30,000 pregnant and nursing mothers, patients and their caregivers with WASH services.
Mere said the project would be facilitating the attainment of open defecation free status by reaching 20,000 people with basic sanitation and hygiene services.
According to her, the one-year project is targeted at improving hygiene behaviour among nursing mothers and vulnerable communities at Ojodu and Ikorodu North LCDA’s.
She said the I-HHP leveraged existing structures and mechanisms set up by the sanitation and hygiene project earlier implemented in Ikorodu North and Ojodu LCDA’s.
“It has deepened our sanitation and hygiene intervention work and ensured that WASH is integrated to core health programmes related to maternal, new-born and child health.
“To widen reach and impact of the I-HHP intervention, we also targeted community members within touchpoints outside healthcare facilities,” Mere said.
She described the project as a major step aimed at strengthening WASH in primary healthcare system and ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible to all.
“We have, therefore, renovated a key health facility, provided essential medical equipment, improved water and sanitation facilities; and introduced modern patient family spaces.
“The centre now has a fully equipped delivery room, a 15,000 litre solar powered bore-hole with treatment plant to provide clean and safe water for pregnant women, nursing mothers, health workers, and users of the facility.
“”Five new sanitation and hygiene services provided and rehabilitation of six existing ones to provide access to quality WASH services,” Mere said.
She noted that PHC is the foundation of any strong healthcare system.
“It is the first point of contact for many families, providing essential services such as maternal and child health, immunisation and disease prevention,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to the Kimberly Clark Corporation for their unwavering support and commitment to the project.
The Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, Mr David Odunmbaku, expressed gratitude to WaterAid and Kimberly Clark for the great support in making the vision a reality.
Odunmbaku said the LCDA would ensure the sustainability of the project.
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“Looking ahead, I want to assure you that Ogba PHC is just the beginning, we are determined to ensure that every ward and community in Ojodu has access to best possible healthcare service.
“This facility will serve as a model for future healthcare development and we will continue to focus on preventive care, regular health screening and health education,” Odunmbaku said.
According to him, a progressive community is a healthy community.
