The Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA) has visited the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Mangu LGA in order to commensurate with IDPs on the sad event that led to their displacement. The agency was also on ground to assess the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) needs of the people. The visiting PRUWASSA Team was led by the General Manager of the Agency Engr Peter R. Kassam on Tuesday 30th, May, 2023.
According to the Agency over-crowdedness, lack of adequate portable and safe drinking water, poor condition of toilet facilities at the IDP camp and other issues often pose great health risks to the lives of IDPs, especially Women and Children who are the worse affected.
The team on arrival visited the management of the LGA to register its presence and was well received by the deputy Director of Administration, Mrs Kumbin Menya on behalf of the Management of Mangu Local Government Council, in company of WASH Director and his staff.
The General Manager of PRUWASSA, Engr Peter R. Kassam in his remark stated that the purpose of the visit to Mangu was in respect of the IDPs, to condole them on the resent unfortunate attacks that led to the loss of lives and the displacement of thousands. The General Manager also said that he had come with his team to respond to their Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) needs which is the mandate of his Agency, and is crucial for the survival IDPs while on camp.
In her response, the Deputy Director Administration Mangu Local Government Council Mrs Kumbin Menya said the PRUWASSA team’s visit was timely as the LGA is currently overwhelmed by the situation and mostly depends on external assistance to cope with the plights of the IDPs.
An interface was also held with the WASH Director, Mwagwavul Youth Movement Chiarman (Nanbal Tanko) who is standing in for the National President, Chairman LGA Surveillance Mr Da,ar Ezekiel. The team were informed that most of the IDPs that were in COCIN PAYAM and LEA Primary School bungha camp were not on ground at the time of the visit as all had gone to their farms and some have taken shelter with their relatives and only those in COCIN LCC Rampiya are currently on ground.
The team in company of the aforementioned persons proceeded to the camp to for an On-the-Spot assessment of the situation. On arrival, the General manager PRUWASSA and his team were warmly received by the camp Manager and Church Secretary Mr Mangs Manji in company of other elders and the Chiroman Kantoma Mr Istifanus Yenla.
The General Manager in usual passionate style took to to explain that PRUWASSA is a Government Agency saddled with responsibilities of providing access to Safe Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Services to the rural populace, including during emergency situations such as the one at hand in Mangu, which necessitated the visit to this camp to respond to some of their WASH need.
At the time of the visit, a total of 1,963 people, comprising of 365 adult male, 735 adult female, 125 orphans, 47 pregnant women, 65 widows, 275 children under 5 years, 350 children 6 years and teenagers. This population are IDPs displaced from across 18 communities namely (Kantoma, Mangul, Murish, Kubat, Fungzai, Aloghom, Jwak-maitumbi, Dungwannaan, Kyampus, Manja, Jangwal, Kikyau, Gande, K.K Lang, Kudum, Kumbili, Washna, Tyop).
IDPs have been on camp for the past two weeks and as at the time of visit must of the camp members were said to be nonresident, as members of the host church sheltered most of them and they only converged in the morning for other needs and services.
The teachng of Hygiene and Water Safety on camp was led by Director of Sanitation Mrs. Magadaline and Deputy Director Water Supply Mr Pam Dalyop respectively who are also on the General Manager’s Team.
Items presented By PRUWASSA include 300 pieces of Safe Guard Toilet Soap, 10 Packs of 250kg Detergents, Ten units of 20 Liters Rubber Buckets for hand washing, 16 units of 20 liters of Water
Jerry-cans for water storage, 10 units of Drinking Water Jugs and 22 units of drinking cups, 5000 tablets of Chlorine for water purification at storage points, 10 Brooms, 10 Packers, 40 copies of
Hygiene promotion posters and flip charts, 135 copies of Hygiene brochures.
The total cost for the above items is over N500,000.
A part from the presentation of the above non food items 45 Camp Hygiene Promoters (CHP) were formed comprising of mostly women drawn from across the 18 communities. They were given awareness on 5 key hygiene domains and critical times for hand washing for continuous promotion and awareness creation to other members during the period of their stay on the camp.
To ensure compliance to this action, Mangu LGA WASH Department s
staff were charged to be stationed in the camp to monitor their daily hygiene practices activities in other to prevent the outbreak of poor hygiene related illnesses and help maintain good health.
Copies of Hygiene promotion flip charts and posters were presented to the Camp Hygiene Promoters as tools to be use for their routine campaigns.
The camp Manager and the Chiroman Kantoma while responding to the visit sincerely appreciated the General Manager of PRUWASSA Engr Peter R. Kassam and his team for show of love and solidarity.
Nigeria Star News 