In order to reduce the high prevalence rate of water borne diseases Gombe state government, Wednesday, declared a state of emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Mijinyawa Yahaya, disclosed this at a news conference in Gombe shortly after the State Executive Council meeting.
According to him, the Executive Order 006 of 2020 as signed by the governor is also aimed at ensuring that the state is open defecation-free by 2025.
The commissioner said the WASH statistics for 2018 which he described as “very disturbing,’’ necessitated the move for government’s action in order to bridge the existing gap between access to water and sanitation.
“Part of the state government’s effort in improving access to water would include construction of 332 boreholes in different locations in the state.
“Plans are also ongoing for the establishment of public toilets, especially in densely populated areas and specifically in motor parks, markets, hospitals and schools,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that his ministry would also embark on massive awareness to sensitise people of the state, especially in rural communities on the dangers of open defecation.
Yahaya assured that the state government was working to ensure that the challenge of water supply was addressed in the overall interest of the people of the state.
