The United Nations Children’s Fund (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 in Gusau at a consultative meeting with the state government’s officials and other stakeholders in the water supply and sanitation sector in the state.
Said, who was 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 adding that the project would improve access to good water and sanitation services.
The UNICEF chief described the engagement as timely, stressing that “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.”
According to her, UNICEF is working closely with the state government and other key social sectors including the water sector to ensure the implementation of relevant policies in addressing the needs of women and children.
Said thanked the stakeholders at the meeting who were drawn from different government’s ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state for their inputs during the meeting.
The permanent secretary, State Ministry for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Yazeed Attahiru, appreciated UNICEF for supporting the state through various programmes.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for development partners for the overall development of the state.
