Over 30 formal and non-formal primary schools and learning centers in Sokoto State now have access to safe drinking water, courtesy of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project co-funded by USAID and WOFAN.

One of the main aims of the WASH project, which is in its first phase in the state, is to improve livelihoods by providing access to safe drinking water through the provision of boreholes equipped with hand pumps and specially designed concrete slabs.

As has become widely known and accepted, improving access to safe drinking water and better sanitation can halve diseases.

This is why the provision of safe drinking water is a major aspect of the WASH project. And, it is why boreholes equipped with hand pumps have now been provided in close to 20 primary schools and non-formal learning centers in 5 selected LGAs of Sokoto State. The five LGAs are Bodinga, Kware, Shagari, Silame and Wamakko LGAs.

The 24 communities identified in the Project Plan for the first phase of the WASH project were covered within the first six months of the project year. However, in order to expand access beyond the 24 communities identified in the PMP, WOFAN started providing boreholes in other communities within the USAID project family. By the end of the year, the number of boreholes provided in schools had increased to 31.

This has the ultimate effect of spreading the intervention and making life easier for many more pupils than initially planned.

Access to safe drinking water will reduce incidence of water borne diseases in the benefitting communities thereby reducing the occurrence of absence from school due to illness. It will also increase school attendance as children would spend less time looking for water. This will particularly affect the girl child positively as she is often saddled with the responsibility of trekking long distances in search of water for domestic use.

So, the new boreholes would improve access to safe drinking water, increase school attendance and retention and ultimately improve livelihoods in the benefitting communities.

Some of the benefitting schools are Magaji Rufai Islamiyya School, Shagari LGA;  Horo Birnin Model Primary School, Shagari LGA; Dadin Mahe Model Primary school, Shagari LGA; Tarbiyatul Aulad Muslimina, Yanturmi (Chofal), Shagari LGA; Magaji Bello Model Primary School, Shagari LGA; Makarantar Malam Aliyu Liman, Dingyadi, Bodinga LGA; Sahabi Bojo Islamiyya, Bodinga LGA; Kware Nizamiyya, Kware LGA; Sarkin Yamma Model Primary School, Kware LGA; Bankanu Model Primary School, Kware LGA;  Makarantar Malam Liman, Hamma Ali, Kware LGA and Shehu Malam Model Primary School, Kware LGA.

Others are Aliyu Magatakarda Model Primary School, Bado, Wamakko LGA; Kasarawa Model Primary School, Wamakko LGA; Drop-in Center, Wamakko LGA; Barade Abubakar Jabbi II JNI, Wamakko LGA; JIN, Gumbi, Wamakko LGA, Makarantar Malam Boyi, Wamakko LGA, Madrasatul Umkazul Ummati, Garin Magaji, Silame LGA; Gande Model Primary School, Silame LGA; Ahmed Rufai Model Primary School, Silame LGA; Katami Model Primary School, Silame LGA; and Labani Model Primary School, Silame LGA.

This is bound to increase access to safe drinking water, improve hygiene and sanitation, improve school attendance and retention and ultimately improve livelihoods in the benefitting communities.

In addition to the 31 schools, the WASH project also provided boreholes in about 15 clinics and health posts across the benefitting communities.