UNICEF Decries Low WASH Activities In Schools, Health Facilities In Kano Jigawa

… Urges Media to Champion the Advocacy for their Revival

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

Disturbed about the deteriorating water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities in schools and primary healthcare facilities in Jigawa and Kano states, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNiCEF), has called for urgent steps to stem the tide and restore the quality of lives.

It has therefore, solicited media support to amplify children’s voices in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, thereby holding governments accountable for their commitments.

Rahama Mahmood Farah, the Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, at a media dialogue on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services in Kano and Jigawa, described the situation as threatening not only to the survival of the students but also posing great danger to the health of persons accessing the health care services.

The three-day dialogue was put together by UNiCEF in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation at Tahir Guest Palace Kano.

According to him, WASH Matters for children, schools, and health care facilities, as they host substantial numbers of people of varying ages, health status, and physical abilities.

These settings, he explained, centred on rapid spread of diseases if not adequately provided with WASH facilities, noting that clean water, toilets, and hand washing stations in schools and health centres are lifelines for children’s health, for their learning, and dignity.

“Without them, school absenteeism rises especially for girls and infections spread rapidly, undermining SDG targets for education (4.a) and universal WASH (6.1-6.2),” he said.

He stated that the Nigeria 2021 WASHNORM II survey, the most comprehensive recent national assessment, revealed stark challenges in WASH services across institutions such as health facilities and schools.

Nationwide Farah explained, only 11 per cent of schools have access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services, with figures even more dire in rural Northwest Nigeria.

“Only six per cent of health facilities have access to basic water supply, basic sanitation, and hygiene services in Kano and Jigawa states.

“In both states, the situation mirrors national laws but demands urgent local action, though Jigawa and recently Katsina states have made strides toward open defecation-free status.

“Hand washing functionality remains low, with states like Jigawa scoring below national averages in school hygiene infrastructure, leaving millions of children exposed to preventable illnesses like diarrhea and cholera.

“In North-West Nigeria, poor WASH contributes to high child morbidity, robbing kids of safe spaces to thrive,” the UNICEF chief said.

He, however, disclosed that UNICEF, with donor funding, was supporting governments to improve WASH services in schools and health facilities.

He disclosed that in 2025, the UK government invested £19 million in the Climate Resilient for Basic Infrastructure Programme, which funded 84 climate-resilient health and education facilities in Kano and Jigawa.

Farah further explained that the success was achieved through a collaboration among UNICEF, the federal government, the UK government, and partners.

He urged the media to utilise its power to drive change through relentless advocacy, thereby spotlighting WASHNORM gaps in Kano and Jigawa.

The UNICEF chief also appealed to the media to demand transparency in state budgets and to track resource allocations for boreholes, latrines, and soap in health and educational facilities.

He reminded media practitioners of their responsibility to hold governments at all levels accountable in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

According to him as “The 2021 WASHNORM II survey has revealed that only 11 per cent of schools nationwide have access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services, while just six per cent of health facilities meet the same standard.

“The situation is more severe in rural areas of Northwest Nigeria, where inadequate WASH facilities expose millions of children to preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.

He noted, however that Jigawa and Katsina states have made progress towards open defecation-free status, hand washing facilities and school hygiene infrastructure remain below national averages, putting children’s health and learning at risk.

The UNiCEF chief warned that schools and health facilities without adequate WASH services can become centres for rapid disease transmission, leading to increased school absenteeism, especially among girls.

His words: “With donor support, UNICEF is working with governments to improve WASH services, including the inauguration of 84 climate-resilient health and education facilities in Kano and Jigawa under the UK-funded £19 million CRIBS Programme.”

The programme according to Farah, has been expanded to other states following its success in the two states, pointed out that, the significant of proper maintenance of WASH facilities to ensure long-term benefits.

He called for urgent action to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in schools and primary healthcare facilities across Kano and Jigawa states.