80 percent of diseases in developing regions are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions - C'River Commissioner

By Our Reporter

The Cross River State Government has officially launched the implementation of the WASH System for Health (WS4H) programme in Obubra Local Government Area, reiterating that investment in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) is critical for public health and development.

The programme commenced with a key stakeholders’ meeting held at the Obubra Local Government Council Hall on Monday, October 27, 2025. The event was a collaborative effort between the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSSA), the Ministry of Water Resources, and Self Help Africa (SHA).

Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Bassey Offiong Mensah, emphasized the importance of WASH, describing it as “not merely basic needs but human rights and critical determinants of health and development.”

Barrister Mensah highlighted staggering statistics, noting that studies show up to 80 per cent of diseases in developing regions are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions.

“Investing in WASH is, in truth, investing in the health, dignity, and prosperity of our people,” the Commissioner stressed.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring every citizen has access to safe water, improved sanitation, and proper hygiene, which it termed the foundation of a healthy and productive society.

The Commissioner also noted that the meeting was aimed at strengthening collaboration among government agencies, development partners, and local authorities to enhance the sustainability and accountability of WASH services.

Dr. Hippolatus Lukpata, the State Commissioner for International Donor Coordination, commended Obubra Local Government Council for accepting the project. He issued a stern warning to the community, calling on them to protect WASH infrastructure and urging them to “prosecute any vandals.”

Dr. Lukpata also referenced a past achievement, stating, “Cross River State was the first to have an LGA declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) in this country, but now, no LGA is ODF. Our hands must be on deck.”

The Vice Chairman and CEO of the State Planning Commission (SPC), Dr. Bong Duke, represented by Mr. Tommy Samuel, maintained that the WS4H programme represents a “vital intervention” to build a healthier and more sustainable Cross River State. He acknowledged that “waterborne diseases, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene facilities have constrained the progress in health and community wellbeing.”

Hon. Sunday Oko, the General Manager of RUWATSSA, pledged to relocate to Obubra to ensure the programme’s success, emphasising, “This is not a Calabar thing, that’s why you see us all here.” He also reinforced the call to prosecute vandals, warning that “this is not business as usual.”

Earlier, the Obubra LGA Chairman, Hon. Kingsley Arikpo, thanked the state government for choosing his local government area. He, however, raised critical local issues, revealing that “some chiefs are in the business of destroying and selling those infrastructures,” and also questioned the quality of boreholes, noting that “some don’t last long after drilling, and some are done hurriedly.”

Mr. Ferdinand Anok, Senior WASH Officer for Self Help Africa, used his goodwill message to strongly urge participants to take hygiene practices seriously.

The day-long event included an institution-triggering activity designed to starkly illustrate the realities of poor hygiene, along with a visioning and assessment session. The Paramount Ruler of Obubra similarly urged community members to sustain proper hygiene practices and protect the public facilities.

It will be recalled that the State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, had previously approved the release of ₦95 million as counterpart funding for the three-year WASH intervention programme in Obubra, an approval that was confirmed in August by both the Commissioner for Water Resources and the RUWASSA General Manager.