Although Rwanda has made commendable strides in water distribution to various parts of the country, societies of most African countries still consider access to clean water and sanitation as a privilege to the rich yet those that are needy also have a right of access to safe water.
Aflodis Kagawa the country director of Rwanda NGOs Forum claims that in some rural areas the dwellers have difficulty in getting clean water and also lack better toilets too.
“Normally those living in the rural have less access to better toilets while slum dwellers in the city are often exposed to sewage originating from nearby factories,” he remarked.
Kagawa made the remarks during a general assembly involving members of the African Civil Society on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) of which RWASEF is part of the network.
Kagawa further noted that Rwanda’s progress towards ensuring sanitation for all wasn’t that bad compared to other countries and that RWASEF was also offering its contribution through several NGO’s that work under the umbrella.
“As we speak we’re constructing modern latrines to a good number of schools in the country as well as installing more water fountains in several villages,” he commented.
Construction of better toilets might be an impressive starting point but governments should show commitment in designing policies favouring clean environments.
ANEW has recommended to African ministers in charge of water and sanitation of water that have convened at the conference aimed at improving sanitation on the continent.
Edward Kairu the ANEW chairman based in Nairobi stressed that governments should demonstrate their political will ensuring that sanitation prevails among their citizens.
“So far we’re conducting awareness to our citizens showing them that they have a right to a hygienic environment thus should hold their leaders accountable,” he remarked.
The ANEW executive secretary Yiga Matovu noted that governments ought to ensure that marginalized people including; slum dwellers, women, disabled and the elderly especially those living in remote areas have access to both clean water and better sanitation.
Governments should have clear timetable and measurable targets for achieving expenditure of 0.5% of GDP on sanitation and safe water. This would be enhanced by separation of budget lines for sanitation spending that must be set for better targeting of funds and easy monitoring.
“Resources should be channeled towards countries with low sanitation coverage and a higher burden of sanitation diseases,” Matovu remarked.
The Unilever Global Social Mission director Myriam Sidibe highlighted that children constitute the majority of victims since on average 30% of global population wash their hands with soap before eating, meaning the rest are at a high risk of being affected.
She added that the number of children dying of diarrhoea and pneumonia is very high estimated at about 1.5million while 1.9 million children die of respiratory infections.
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