Abuja, March 22 2021- “Every morning, I walk for about 4.5 Kilometers to get water from a neighboring village, I have to do this every day to provide water for my family. This is because we do not have access to freshwater and using the contaminated one we have can affect our health” stated Falmata Goni, a nine–year old girl from Konduga Local Government Area (LGA), Borno state. 

She added that “I want to become a water engineer to help other people like me get sustainable access to freshwater.”

Falmata’s mother and two brothers were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents and she is the only surviving child of her father. Despite her ordeal, Falmata dreams of becoming a water engineer to help make safe water available to people.

Just like Falmata, 2.2 billion people in the world are living without access to safe water.  An estimated 42 percent of the Nigerian population do not use basic water services which puts them at risk, according to the 2018 WASHNORM report.
 
With the aim of stressing the importance of freshwater, every March 22, the world commemorates World Water Day since 1993. World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness on the importance of ensuring a universal access to clean water, towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. 

This year´s theme World Water Day “valuing water” is about what water means to people, it's true value and how we can better protect this essential resource. The value of water is about much more than its price – water has complex value for health, agriculture, religion, power generation, culture, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. 

During a Press Conference in Abuja in commemoration of the World Water Day, the Honorable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, enumerated the achievements of the Ministry in the WASH sector, including the establishment of eight (8) functional Water Analysis Laboratories in the country, Construction of Dams and Irrigation projects, amongst others. The events also featured the launching of the first edition of the National WASH Account Report in compliance to TrackFin initiative under the UN-Water GLAAS project, which WHO is leading, and commissioning of Solar powered borehole at Chika Abuja by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources. 

Also speaking at the event, the Country Representative of WHO, Nigeria Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, represented by Dr Edwin Isotu Edeh of WHO noted that clean water is an indispensable resource for practicing Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures such for handwashing and environmental cleaning in homes and hospitals to protect against COVID-19, and advocated for investment in the WASH sector to ensure that all Nigerians irrespective of their gender, age, social status should have access to clean water.

Water safety and quality are fundamental to human development and well-being. Providing access to safe water is one of the most effective instruments in promoting health and reducing poverty.

To this end, the WHO as the international authority on public health and water quality, leads global efforts to prevent transmission of waterborne diseases. This is achieved by promoting health-based regulations to governments and working with partners to promote effective risk management practices to water suppliers, communities and households. In Nigeria, WHO has facilitated the review of Nigeria Water Quality Standards, WASH Guidelines for Health Facilities, water quality related Operating Guidelines of the National Environmental Sanitation Policy, and trainings on IPC/WASH protocols against Covid-19. 

Technical Contact:
Dr Kelias Msyamboza; Email: msyambozak [at] who.int; Tel: +234 906 278 4292
Dr Edeh Edwin Isotu; Email: edehe [at] who.int: Tel: +234 806 872 7856