The Society of Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) with the support of WATERAID Nigeria handed over 10 Contactless Hand Washing Machines to the Plateau State Government at a ceremony which took place on the 4th of June 2020 at the Plateau state Ministry of Water Resources and Energy office complex.

The Program officer of NEWSAN Mr Jephthah Daleng gave an overview of CSOs support to government on COVID-19 emergency response team, thanking the Plateau state government for their support so far.

Plateau state Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government Mr Danladi Atu appreciates NEWSAN’s efforts saying the fight to combat the spread of corona virus is a collaborative one. He stated that government will do its best to stop community transmission however he retreated that the people must learn how to live and cope with the disease making personal hygiene very important.

Present at the ceremony were the Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy and the commissioner for Health, both emphasised that that they were delighted with the collaboration and both encourages other private and corporate organizations to emulate NEWSAN’s success story and the proactive measures they have taken in combating the pandemic.

Highlight of the event is the handing over of the contactless Hand Washing Machine by the state coordinator of NEWSAN, Mr Vings Lomak to the Plateau state government through Dr Danladi Atu.

Below is the full speech of Mr Lomak;

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY DR. VINGS J. LOMAK, STATE COORDINATOR NEWSAN PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER ON THE HANDING OVER CEREMONY OF NON-CONTACT HAND WASHING FACILITIES TO PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT DONATED BY NEWSAN WITH THE SUPPORT OF WATERAID NIGERIA HELD ON 4TH JUNE, 2020 AT THE MINISTRY FOR WATER RESOURCES AND ENERGY OFFICE COMPLEX.

PROTOCOL

It gives me a great delight to stand and address this great audience at a very unique but sober occasion. It is unique because it has never been done before and it is sober because it is about life and death. I am standing before this august guests on behalf of Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) Plateau State Chapter to conduct a special ceremony of handing over of 10no. model non-contact hand washing facilities to the government in Plateau State.

NEWSAN is a not-for-profit organization working in Plateau State with about 40 members registered organization to help people break free from disease and poverty, unlock their potentials and transform their lives through improved access to clean water, decent toilets, good hygiene and climate change mitigation.
We are rounding up a 2-year project which is the European Union Technical Assistance to Civil Society Organizations (EU-TAC) project in Shendam and Riyom LGAs, working in close partnership with the Government, Civil Society Organizations and communities to improve access to sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services.

Your Excellency, it will interest you to know that this event is only one among many other activities to be done stretching up to six months in the first instance of the project. Also, worthy of note is the fact that this Covid-19 Rapid Response Project is funded by WaterAid Nigeria and implemented by the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) Plateau State for the good people of Plateau State.

NEWSAN will like to take this moment to appreciate your effort in combating the covid-19 with setting up isolation Centre’s across the state as well as the successful establishment of a testing center at NVRI Vom, formation of a palliative committee etc. This we believe will aid in curtailing the spread of the decease and also cushion the biting effect of the pandemic in the state.

Additional commendation;
Payment of counterpart fund for the EU/UNICEF project in the State among many others.
Declaration of State emergency on WASH in the State.

The establishment of Water Policy and subsequent gazzetting of the Water Law in the State.

Highest budgetary allocation to MWR&E
The upgrading of WASH units into the statutory departments of operations.

Winning the PEWASH program of the World Bank top among 1st 10 states, this is matching words with action and is indeed commendable and fruitful.

The World Health Organization 2019 Public Advisory recommended regular and thorough washing hands with soap and water to protect oneself and others from infectious disease, including CIVID-19.
Good hygiene and clean water are the first line of defense against the novel corona virus and other highly contagious disease that can drastically be reduced with basic hygiene behavior such as hand washing with soap and water. This makes water sanitation and hygiene services indispensable element of preventive and primary healthcare.

Your Excellency, earlier on in the Course of the EU-TAC Project during the last Election in the State in 2019, we ventured into community-led drastic WASH Campaigns during and after elections viz Vote for WASH and keep your promise campaigns. The result which gave rise to our Award Presentations of WASH Ambassadors, the recipients who were the Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly and some members of the Assembly.
The intention was to appreciate their interest, willingness and support to the Sub-sector of the economy, and equally challenge them unto putting in greater efforts in line with keeping to their election Promises to the Citizenry.

As a development organization, we call on you to double your good efforts in this emergency situation towards arresting the ugly trend and its devastating effect while also planning for the future of the good people of the State.
I will like to further caution that your efforts should not be out of fear and panic but a good preparation to facing the future headlong and shoulder high as it is said that proper planning prevents poor performance or as better captured by the Director General of WHO, Dr. Tedros… “Now is the time for all countries to invest in preparedness not panic”.

Therefore, in conclusion, we make bold to say loud and clear to Plateau State “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PLATEAU TO INVEST IN PREPAREDNESS NOT PANIC”.

Aluta continua, Victoria acerta!
Think Plateau Act Plateau and you shall see the Plateau of our Dream – A people full of life, love and peace- a people determined to succeed. So help us God.