[Nigerian Chapter] Improving Access to WASH Services for Displaced and Vulnerable Communities

Challenge Background

Water, Sanitation, and Health are critical metrics for evaluating the standard of living and healthy lifestyle.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria is in the Niger- Delta region, surrounded by water and with a lot of crude oil. The region is prone to oil spillage and consequent water pollution almost every year. A lot of homes do not also have access to good water. Due to the abundance of water in the area, boreholes are not drilled deep enough to the bedrock where there is a clean aquifer thereby increasing the microbial load in the water.

Good sanitation is not also practiced. Most times, waste is left undisposed by the waste management agencies, leaving the city dirty and smelling. This has also contributed to the pollution of water bodies as the dirt left untreated may be carried into neighboring streams and rivers.

There have been reported cases of illegal refining activities. This has resulted in the emission of a large number of carbon contents (soot) into the atmosphere.

These activities have endangered the lives of the people and the children.

In line with the sustainable development goals, the importance of good water and environmental sanitation cannot be overemphasized while adding that the citizenry's health is strongly tied to the performance of these metrics.

The Problem

Improve access to WASH services (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) for displaced persons and vulnerable host communities to reduce susceptivity to waterborne diseases and improve livelihoods. More than one million people have been displaced in the region of focus. Strengthen livelihoods and resilience among households and increase sustainable access to WASH services.

Goal of the Project

Covering the current infrastructure situation of WASH services.

Data:

• Have a few surveys, reports, and other data sources but no centralized data pool
• No experience with satellite imagery (but open to exploring)
• Currently talking to other CSOs and data partners to collect more data
• So more data can be collected in November & December

Project Timeline

What you'll learn