The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) has urged African countries to ramp up efforts to strengthen systems in improving the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme, thereby making water more accessible for Africans in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
AMCOW’s Executive Secretary, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, made the call on Monday, in Abuja.
Mbaziira assured that AMCOW would continue to promote the implementation and utilisation of the African Sanitation Policy Guidelines in member countries.
He stated that the ASPG was formulated using standards from global best practices, noting that its adoption would ensure safely managed sanitation services for the populace.
He added that Nigeria had been a major partner in AMCOW’s activities, saying more efforts were needed to close the huge sanitation gaps in the country.
Mbaziira said the crucial importance of having a functioning system and stakeholders’ partnership.
This, he said would strengthen the enabling environment for scaling up sanitation and hygiene services.
According to him, having a stand-alone sanitation and hygiene policy in the country was important and should be encouraged by all, adding that AMCOW would continue to work to see its acceptance.
