TO ensure proper sanitary habits among Nigerians, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has called for stringent sensitization in communities.

The Governor made the call today (07/08/15) in Asaba when the management team of United Nation Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) paid him a courtesy visit.

According to the Governor, "l believe that we need to create a proper forum, adequate and proper advocacy, create institutions and partnership at the community level to enable us achieve the goals of making our people imbibe good sanitary habit."

"l believe that whatever we do in the area of sanitation, advocacy is the way out and encouraging our communities to buy in, we must make the communities understand that the issue of sanitation and hygiene is good for them and when that is accepted, it becomes easier for desired goals to be achieved," he added.

Governor Okowa reiterated, "we will re-invigorate the teaching of hygiene and sanitation in our primary and secondary schools, we will add advocacy through traditional rulers and opinion leaders within the communities and l think that will help us voice whatever measures that will be put on ground."

He assured the UNICEF team of state government's committment towards meeting up with its counterpart funding.

The Chief Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer of UNICEF, Mr. Kannan Nadar had in an address, commended Delta State Government for its humanitarian support which has helped to improve the progress of the state in the UNICEF rating explaining that "Delta State have a good human resources capital but the government should give more priority to sanitation and hygiene."

He said that it was important that all local government in the state have access to potable water and good hygiene adding that the organization would give the state technical support.

PRESS UNIT
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ASABA
AUGUST 7, 2015