The UN Children’s Funds (UNICEF) has commenced stakeholders engagement on the development of Zamfara water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector policy.
The Chief of UNICEF, Sokoto Field Office, Dr Maryam Said, disclosed this on Tuesday in Gusau at the consultation meeting with the state government’s officials and others stakeholders on WSS sector policy in the state.
She said that project would improve access to water quality and sanitation services in the state
Said, who represented at the occasion by the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, Mr Isah Ibrahim, noted that the meeting was sequel to the approval of WSS policy in the state by Gov Dauda Lawal.
The UNICEF chief described the engagement as timely, adding that 35 per cent of the state population had no access to improved water.
“Zamfara is one of the states with high deprivation of sanitation services as 64.7 per cent of the people of the state do not have access to improved sanitation services.
“The UNICEF is working closely with the state government and other key social sectors including water sector to ensure the implementation of relevant policies in addressing the needs of women and children,” Said added.
Said, who thanked all the stakeholders at the meeting who were drawn from the different government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state for their inputs during the meeting.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Yazeed Attahiru, thanked UNICEF for supporting the state through various programs.
Attahiru reiterated the state government’s commitments to providing conducive environment for the development partners for the overall development of the state.
