By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Government of Sierra Leone with support from the Government of Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNICEF has launched a $ 6.4 million (six million, four hundred thousand US dollars) programme that will improve access to Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Services.
The four years programme is geared towards Improving Livelihoods and Child-Friendly Environment in eight Rural Fishing Communities.
The programme was made public through a joint press release from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and UNICEF on the 8th February, 2023.
Besides the eight communities in PortLoko and Moyamba Districts where the projects will be implemented, and additional eight communities in Bonthe, Western Rural Area, Kambia and Pujehun will also receive similar support in the second phase.
According to the release, the programme will benefit 53,327 (fifty three thousand, three hundred and twenty seven) people of which 26,130 (twenty six thousand, one hundred and thirty) are males and 27,197 (twenty seven thousand, one hundred and ninety seven) are females, including children, living in 16 fishing communities.
Also, eight healthcare facilities across eight targeted communities will have access to and use basic WASH services and proper waste management systems.
The press statement quoted the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Emma Kowa Jalloh, saying that, the assistance could not have come at a better time than, when the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is trying to upgrade all fish landing facilities across the coast to ensure that fish is landed in quality and in quantity.
“Through this intervention we will be able to maintain proper hygiene in the handling of fish and fishery products; and this will enable us to access international markets and attract better prices,” she said.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2017 stated that, only 16 per cent of the people in Sierra Leone have access to basic sanitation services. Sanitation coverage in rural communities is said to be at 28 per cent.
It also noted that about 76 percent of the population in the Western Rural District does not have basic sanitation facilities, and that illnesses linked to poor sanitation, including diarrhea, malaria and malnutrition are prevalent.
A joint WHO/UNICEF 2021 monitoring report indicated that 36 percent of the Rural District population does not have access to basic water supply.
The programme will therefore ensure improved access to safe water and good hygiene by families in the targeted communities, while girls will be supported with knowledge and products to help them manage their menstruation in a safe and dignified manner.
It could be recalled that, the Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborated with UNICEF and the Government of Sierra Leone in 2019, on the development of water and sanitation in the coastal communities of Tombo, Goderich and Konacrydee in PortLoko.
Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, was said to have been pleased to continue the collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and UNICEF. She said the project builds on lessons from previous collaboration and applies an integrated approach to water and sanitation and improved livelihoods in coastal communities, which she said have been a key focus of Iceland‘s cooperation in Sierra Leone.
“We look forward to working with partners on this important programme,” she said.
This contribution from the Iceland Government comes at a time when the Government of Sierra Leone, together with UNICEF, are said to be intensifying efforts to improve water, sanitation and hygiene practices as a way to protect communities from diseases.
UNICEF Representative, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh applauds the investment being made by the Government of Iceland and looks forward to working with key sector players from the Government, civil society and private sector towards a successful implementation of this programme. He said he wants to see how the lessons learnt and good practices could be replicated, across the country.
The programme will also benefit 1,000 (one thousand) children from 3-5 years who will attend Early Childhood Development centres and have enhanced opportunities for early childhood learning and development.
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