By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
In an effort to strengthen the coordination of State Task Group on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, STG-WASH, in the state, the Cross River State government in collaboration with Self Help Africa, SHA, Society for Water and Sanitation, NEWSAN, supported by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, has inaugurated the State Task Group on WASH, STG-WASH.
The State Task Group on Sanitation, STGS, is expanded to include water and hygiene, evolving into STG-WASH to ensure that WASH activities are synergized to align strategies and policies.
Speaking at the task group inauguration, which took place at the conference Hall of Hogis Hotel, Calabar, on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Bassey Offiong Esq charged the 45-member group to live up to expectation so that the purpose for its inauguration is not defeated.
He said, “As you are inaugurated today, let every member of this group have it at the back of their minds that it is their responsibility to oversee, guide and harmonised WASH activities in the state.
“This is in recognition of the critical importance of WASH to public health, socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability.”
The commissioner lauded the 45-menber group, whose membership was drawn from ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, development partners, community-based organisations, media, people living with disabilities, and the private sector for making themselves available for the task ahead.
In his remarks, NEWSAN’s Quality Assurance Officer, Williams Ngwakwe, stated, “STG-WASH is a cornerstone that we believe will drive inclusive and sustainable WASH implementation in Cross River State.
“We are hopeful that this task group will lead to significant progress toward achieving SDG 6.
“The decision to establish STG-WASH arose from findings during Visioning Workshops organised by SHA under the FCDO-funded WASH Systems for Health, WS4H, programme in Cross River State.”
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, represented by the deputy director of Hygiene Promotion, Ayaba Kogbara, stated that the inauguration of the group is not strange to her, stressing that it is a step in the right direction.
She said, “At the national level, we have a well-established National Task Group on Sanitation, NTGS, which has been instrumental to coordinating sanitation initiatives across the country.
“I applaud Cross River State for emulating and strengthening this model through the formation of the STG-WASH.
“By adopting a similar approach at the state level, we are ensuring that our strategies are not only consistent but also responsive to local needs.”
