By Lamin B. Darboe
Senior Communication Officer, MoFWR
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Buba Sanyang, on Friday concluded a four-day field visit to UNICEF-supported Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) intervention sites across the West Coast, Central River and Upper River Regions.
The visit, organized by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in partnership with UNICEF The Gambia and the WASH Unit of the Ministry of Health, aimed to assess the status and progress of WASH interventions in communities, schools and health facilities.
Sanyang was accompanied by UNICEF Deputy Country Representative in The Gambia, Amand Gnahore; WASH Programme Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, Lamin Fadera; Musa Bah, Technical Officer and UNICEF Focal Person at the DWR; and Omar Jarjue, Unit Head of Rural Water Supply at the DWR, among other partners.
The delegation also paid courtesy calls on the governors of the two regions, Ousman Bojang and Ousman Bah, respectively, and briefed them on the purpose and scope of the field mission.
During engagements with beneficiary communities in Sita, Foni, Kudang Tenda, Bansang and Wali-Kunda, Sanyang urged residents to take ownership of the WASH facilities and ensure their proper maintenance and sustainable use.
“The purpose of constructing the VIP latrines within your communities is to promote a healthy environment and prevent open defecation,” Sanyang said.
According to Sanyang, the intervention forms part of UNICEF’s Country Programme 2023–2027 under its WASH component, which is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
He added that the Department of Water Resources was responsible for implementing the construction component of the projects.
Director of Water Resources Foday Conteh and Deputy Director of Public Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Ebrima Touray, also highlighted the importance of VIP latrines and improved sanitation facilities in promoting public health and reducing open defecation.
The Alkalo of Sita, Yankuba Jarjue, together with Fatou Sanyang, Fatou Jarjue and other community members, commended UNICEF, the Department of Water Resources and other partners for providing 15 VIP latrines in the community.
They underscored the importance of the facilities and pledged to ensure their proper maintenance and use.
The beneficiaries, however, appealed to UNICEF and the Department of Water Resources to extend similar interventions to neighboring communities, including Jako, Karanai and Gaimo, which they said also needed improved sanitation facilities.
As part of the field mission, Sanyang and his delegation inspected an ongoing VIP latrine project at Sangajor Islamic School in Foni, the water supply and sanitation system at Bansang Hospital, 53 VIP latrines and a water supply system at Kudang Tenda, as well as a water supply system and 12 VIP latrines at Wali-Kunda.
The field visit provided an opportunity for the ministry, UNICEF and other stakeholders to assess implementation progress, engage directly with beneficiaries and identify areas requiring further attention to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services in rural communities.