CHILDREN’S death has been linked to unsafe water supplies and poor hygiene, Oyo State Commissioner for Heath, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, has said.

Adeduntan spoke on Tuesday at the inauguration of a N2 million solar powered water project of the Rotary Club, Jericho Metro, Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the club is set to solve water crisis in local communities of Ibadan after it executed the first phase of a solar-powered industrial size borehole.

Adeduntan, represented by Dr Ayoola Adebisi, said that children’s deaths from diseases like diarrhoea were directly linked to contaminated water and inadequate hygiene.

He said that access to safe and clean water was key to reducing child mortality rate and also the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The commissioner, while commending the club for its efforts toward providing access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation, called on other well-meaning individuals and organisations to provide such people-centred projects in needy communities.

The club President, Mr Kayode Adelekun, said that the borehole, located at Idioro-Elewa, Ologuneru area of Ibadan, would provide water for more than eight thousand residents.

Adelekun said a survey conducted by the club members revealed that many low income communities in the area didn’t have access to safe drinking water.

“At the beginning of this year, it was a major plan of the board to carry out solar powered water project.

“Water, as we know, is essential to life. When people have access to clean water, a lot of water borne diseases decrease and children stay healthier.

“Lack of access to clean water is one of the biggest health problems and one of the hardest to solve.

“One of the six areas of focus of Rotary is water and sanitation, and provision of this borehole falls under this area of focus.

“We hope to have other water projects like this in our local communities to fight water crisis and its attendant problems,” Adelekun said.

According to him, through this project, the communities will live better and healthier lives, while more children survive childhood.

-NAN

BE

– Mar. 26, 2019 @ 18:40 GMT |