News / National
WASH programme reach out to 1 726 000 people in 33 districts
21 May 2016 at 10:34hrs | Views
Environment, Water and Climate Oppah Muchinguri has said the Water and Sanitation health programme (WASH) reached out to 17 26 000 people in 33 districts through the construction of 1660 new boreholes.
She said the Rural Wash project is being implemented in 33 low WASH access and cholera prone districts of Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Masvingo, Midlands and Mashonaland West provinces.
"The project ends this June and has delivered the following: provision of access to improved sources of drinking water to 1 726 000 people in the 33 districts through the construction of 1 660 new boreholes and also rehabilitation of 8 200 existing water points including 32 piped water schemes; supported communities in the construction of 10 000+ household latrines, these are blare latrines in schools and clinics in the 33 districts; we reached out to 1 272 000 people with hygiene promotion messages to adopt healthier behaviour, especially hand washing with soap at critical times and;" she said. "We also put in place the provision of sanitation facilities for the girl child, this is sanitary wear and hand washing facilities in 1 660 schools."
She said having met these targets, they have just had a review meeting with UNICEF and the donors.
"We agreed to a low cost extension of the project to September to allow for further discussions and document preparation with a view to have a second phase of the project to cover the three outstanding provinces of Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central where Hon. Mashange comes from," she said. "I am sure our donors will see reason in covering the whole country as the drought and all the other effects of climate change are felt throughout the country."
"In conclusion, I also want to say, our 33 districts together with the lead WASH ministries, namely Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Ministry of Health and Child Care, DDF and indeed my Ministry, each got a vehicle and computers to support WASH coordination and monitoring systems," she added.
She said the Rural Wash project is being implemented in 33 low WASH access and cholera prone districts of Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Masvingo, Midlands and Mashonaland West provinces.
"The project ends this June and has delivered the following: provision of access to improved sources of drinking water to 1 726 000 people in the 33 districts through the construction of 1 660 new boreholes and also rehabilitation of 8 200 existing water points including 32 piped water schemes; supported communities in the construction of 10 000+ household latrines, these are blare latrines in schools and clinics in the 33 districts; we reached out to 1 272 000 people with hygiene promotion messages to adopt healthier behaviour, especially hand washing with soap at critical times and;" she said. "We also put in place the provision of sanitation facilities for the girl child, this is sanitary wear and hand washing facilities in 1 660 schools."
She said having met these targets, they have just had a review meeting with UNICEF and the donors.
"We agreed to a low cost extension of the project to September to allow for further discussions and document preparation with a view to have a second phase of the project to cover the three outstanding provinces of Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central where Hon. Mashange comes from," she said. "I am sure our donors will see reason in covering the whole country as the drought and all the other effects of climate change are felt throughout the country."
"In conclusion, I also want to say, our 33 districts together with the lead WASH ministries, namely Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Ministry of Health and Child Care, DDF and indeed my Ministry, each got a vehicle and computers to support WASH coordination and monitoring systems," she added.
Source - Byo24News
