Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has declared a state of emergency on the water Sanitation and Hygiene ,WASH sector.
The Governor who made the declaration in Owerri during the 2019 celebration of global hand washing day said the declaration had become imperative to reduce the high prevalence of water-borne diseases in different parts of the state.
Ihedioha who used the platform to lunch the state water policy declared a total stoppage to open defection in the State’s urban ,small town and rural communities and schools.
He explained the essence of the declarations is to inculcate the right habit of hand washing in Imo populace and particularly children and women who are most vulnerable to all manner of diseases occasioned by low access to safe WASH service.
“My government is seriously committed to seeing to the realization of these lofty initiatives and will provide the enabling environment and support required to ensure that we get them implemented in Imo State in line with the Federal Government directives. ”
The governor, appealed to the private sectors and other relevant players in the WASH sector to key into the Federal Government and other reform initiatives by bringing the state government efforts to enhance efficient and effective WASH services in Imo State.”
“I am aware that the Global Hand Washing day is a day set aside by United Nation General Assembly to sensitize people on the threat posed by not observing effective hand washing regularly. Life threatening diseases like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid are consequences of noncompliance to routine and effective hand washing habits. “
