WaterAid Nigeria has urged the Bauchi State Cholera Technical Working Group (TWG), to prioritise rehabilitation of dilapidated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in its budget.

The State Team Lead, Mr Mashat Mallo, said this at the end of the Cholera TWG meeting on Monday in Bauchi.

He said the call was imperative to ensure rapid and effective response to cholera and other water-borne disease outbreaks.

Mallo, represented by Kashim Alex, Business Development Officer, WaterAid, cautioned that over-dependence on donors was unsustainable.

He said donors often channeled funds through Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), specifically for the maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to judiciously utilise such resources rather than waiting for fresh interventions.

“You need to review your WASH budgetary allocations and use existing donor-supported resources to fix broken facilities instead of waiting for funders to step in again,” he said.

Mallo expressed optimism over the inauguration of the TWG, which resolved to meet monthly, while its steering committee would convened quarterly.

He highlighted that inclusive collaboration with civil society organisations, religious bodies and the media would strengthened efforts to curb cholera outbreaks in the state.

Dr Sani Dambam, Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, said the state government would adopt a preventive strategy, focusing on nine thematic areas.

He said that this include disease surveillance; sustained use of oral cholera vaccines, leadership coordination, risk communication and community engagement,” Dambam said.

Dambam urged stakeholders to intensify sensitisation against unhygienic practices, especially during the first quarter of the year when cholera cases usually peak.