In its determination to provide good governance to good people of Bauchi State, Bauchi State Government has collaborated with Wateraid Nigeria to provide female friendly public and community toilets that are hygienic to the citizens in the state.
Mrs Wando Akossu, the state team lead WaterAid Nigeria, stated this during her presentation of overview of impact Accelerator Project Workshop for stakeholders at the weekend in Bauchi.
The NIGERIA STANDARD reports that the stakeholders have conducted a toilet design workshop as part of their efforts to review existing toilets designs by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to WaterAid Nigeria, Bauchi State Government and other stakeholders are willing to work assiduously on the provision of female friendly public and community toilets that cater for menstrual hygiene management and other hygiene requirements.
“We need an inclusive , well designed neighbourhood outdoor and public space to improve people’s health and quality of Life,” she said.
Akosu explained that the objective of the workshop was to identify gaps and improve on the new user’s center toilet designs which is tailored towards improving females, persons with disabilities, females and children comfort while using the toilet.
She added that the project was hinged on a user-centered design of public toilets with an objective of influencing the state government “To provide toilet facilities that women and girls can use with dignity and without concerns using evidence from research,” she said.
Akosu explained that during the project implementation, accessibility and safety audit was conducted in 15 toilets in the motor parks and markets in the state.
“Some of the findings revealed that there were no separate toilet compartments for women, common entrance for men and women,
“No provision of separate compartments for menstrual hygiene and sanitary waste management, no access ramps for persons with disabilities to use Independently, ” she explained.
WaterAid Consultant, Mr. Ojelabi Mayokum in his contribution explained that when designing a toilet, it should include accessibility and safety audit, climate resilience, financial considerations and service providers inputs.
He added that in the design of female-friendly toilets, it must be accessible, safe and private, affordable, cater for menstrual hygiene and meet the needs of care-givers.
The stakeholders include WaterAid Nigeria implementation partners, Women Development Association for Self-Sustenance (WODASS)
Others include the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency(BASEPA), Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) among others.
