The Society for the Promotion of People`s Right, an NGO, says the organisation will begin sensitisation on Water Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH), practices to reduce diseases in the FCT.
Mr Williams Osaze, the President of the organisation said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Osaze said the aim of the exercise was to educate residents and authorities of the FCT on the importance of access to WASH and the implications of living in a filthy environment.
He said that the organisation would be visiting some government primary and secondary schools as well as residents in the FCT.
He said that millions of children die from diseases such as diarrheal, cholera, typhoid among others each year and those who survive often do so facing sub-optimal growth.
He said that preventing the common pathways of transmission for the diseases including improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) were regarded as the most cost-effective measures for tackling these life-threatening diseases.
He said that the sensitisation on the improving WASH practices and environment would prevent diseases among the residents and the students in the FCT.
According to him, the benefits of having access to an improved drinking water source can only be fully realised when there is also access to improved sanitation and adherence to good hygiene practices.
“Beyond the immediate, obvious advantages of people being hydrated and healthier, access to water, sanitation has reflectively wider socio-economic impacts, particularly in the rural areas.
“So, the sensitisation will make people know why it is important to have access to water sanitation and hygiene.
“We are also using the opportunity to let our authorities in the FCT know that it is necessary to provide facilities that will improve access to WASH to the people, especially in the rural areas.
“My NGO is collaborating with other relevant organisations to do the exercise effectively in the FCT,’’ he said.
The president said that the exercise would start from first week of March, adding that it would be a three-day exercise.
He, however, called on authorities in the FCT to support residents and government schools by providing WASH facilities to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene in the area.
He also advised the residents, students and school authorities to ensure that the facilities were maintained appropriately.
, practices to){kind=link}