Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) has certified no fewer than 560 additional communities in Katsina State as Open Defecation Free (ODF), an official said.
The Chairman, Governing Board, Katsina State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Alhaji Salisu Ado, disclosed this at a news conference on the achievements recorded by the agency on Wednesday in Katsina.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project carried out between June 2018 and July 2019 was supported by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
UNICEF had, in 2017, certified 825 communities in the state as ODF on the platform of SHAWN.
Ado said that the government was able to renovate 150 latrines and 30 hand pumps boreholes in different public places.
Ado further explained that 30 solar powered boreholes were also rehabilitated in some communities.
He also said that 32 blocks of two compartment latrines were also constructed in public places during the period under review.
He said that 1,650 hand pump boreholes were drilled in various communities, 460 hand pump boreholes were sunk in some primary schools and 18 others in some junior secondary schools in the state.
According to him, 324 latrines are constructed in some Islamic schools to enhance environmental and personal hygiene among students in the schools.
Ado revealed that another 130 latrines were established in some health centres within the state during the period.
The Executive Director of the agency, Alhaji Aminu Dayyabu, earlier said that the state government had released the sum of N50 million for giving loans to households to construct latrines, noting that the loans would be given through some micro-finance institutions.
Dayyabu urged the benefiting communities to ensure that they maintained the facilities provided in their domain.
