The Gombe state government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Wednesday, launched a high-level media dialogue to accelerate the adoption of a Feacal Sludge Management (FSM) strategy and hasten the attainment of open defecation-free status.
Organised by the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, in collaboration with the Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), the strategic media dialogue brought together key stakeholders from government agencies, media organisations, and development partners to chart a path towards sustainable FSM solutions and increase public awareness.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, the director of Water Resources, Mohammed Alhassan Sadiq, stated the urgent need to address the challenges posed by unsafe faecal sludge disposal practices across the state.
“Many of our communities still depend on on-site sanitation systems such as pit latrines and septic tanks. When not managed properly, these systems pose serious public health risks, contaminate groundwater, and threaten human dignity,” he stated.
He lauded the efforts of RUWASSA and UNICEF in championing rural sanitation transformation and highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of adopting an inclusive FSM approach.