Ekiti State Launches Ambitious SURWASH Program for Water Supply and Sanitation.

Ekiti State Launches Ambitious SURWASH Program for Water Supply and Sanitation.

In a significant stride towards enhancing water supply and sanitation services, the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Program has kicked off its physical operations in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Ekiti State.

This World Bank-assisted initiative is set to transform the lives of communities by constructing 31 boreholes, rehabilitating 21 others, and establishing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in nine schools and three Primary Health Care Centers.

The primary objective of SURWASH is to elevate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services in the state. The ambitious program aims to provide approximately 672,830 people with unhindered access to water supply, declare 55 communities Open Defecation Free (ODF), and offer improved functional sanitation and handwashing facilities to 30,884 households, 221 schools, and healthcare facilities by the program’s conclusion in 2027.

The nine beneficiary Local Government Areas include Ado, Irepodun Ifelodun, Ikole, Ijero, Moba, Ilejemeje, Oye, Ekiti West, and Gbonyin (Ayekire).

Among the initial sites that have witnessed the commencement of operations are Ipole-Iloro Basic Health Center, Itapa Basic Health Center, and Ogunwusi/Jemiriye High School in Igede.

These developments mark a crucial step forward in realizing the SURWASH program’s overarching goals and ushering in a new era of improved water supply, sanitation, and hygiene for the people of Ekiti State.