EU Contributes N9bn To Health, Water Projects

The European Union (EU), through UNICEF, has contributed  N9 billion toward the execution of health, water and sanitation projects in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Modestus Chukwulaka of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the European Union (EU) and UNICEF have signed a five-year contribution agreement for Rural Water and Sanitation Project in Plateau, Ekiti and Adamawa States.

It stated that the contribution agreement was worth 14.75 million euros (N3 billion) and a four-year contribution worth 30 million euros (N6.75 billion) to improve maternal, newborn and child health in Kebbi and Adamawa States.

The statement indicated that the contribution was a follow up to the financing agreements signed by the Federal Government and the European Union, to strengthen development partnership on April 30, 2013.

On water supply, it noted that the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Project, Phase III (WSSSRP III) was implemented by UNICEF.

The reform project was established to strengthen the capacity of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) sector in the frontline states and support sector governance on improved access to sustainable water and hygiene services.

The statement further stated that the overall objective of the health project was to significantly improve the health status of women and children through improved sustainable primary health care delivery system in Kebbi and Adamawa states.

According to the statement, Nigeria contributes about 10 per cent of global burden of maternal deaths as 75 pregnant women and 2,100 Children under the age of five die every day from easily preventable diseases.

“Main causes of deaths for children under the age of five are new-born diseases, malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. Nigeria contributes about 10 per cent of global burden of maternal deaths.

“Under-nutrition and malnutrition are major causes of childhood morbidity. It is estimated that 24 per cent of children under five years are underweight and 36 per cent of children are estimated to be stunted”.

Quoting the 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey report, the statement said that over 118 million Nigerians lacked access to improved sanitation while another 70 million inhabitants did not have access to safe water.

It stated that in Sub-Saharan Africa, one out of five people who use unimproved sanitation facility lives in Nigeria, while the level of non-functioning water supply systems in the rural areas was estimated to be about 40 per cent in some states.

“For the water and sanitation project, the EU support will cover 70 per cent of the total investment cost for construction or rehabilitation of water supply facilities.

“The states, local governments and the beneficiary communities will provide 30 per cent of the cost in line with the National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation.”

The statement also quoted the UNICEF Country Representative, Dr Suomi Sakai, as saying that ”these projects in health, water and sanitation will significantly enhance Nigeria’s chances of meeting the water, sanitation and health-related MDGs”.

She said that the European Union and UNICEF were committed to helping Nigeria revitalise water, sanitation and hygiene services in Nigeria.

On his part, Head of Operations at the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Mr Pierre Philippe,  said that the union was investing about 200 million euros (about N40 billion) in the country’s water and sanitation sector for the period 2012 to 2017.

He explained that the amount represented the largest EU investment in the sector outside Europe and pledged the continued support of the EU in the fight against poverty and maintenance of peace in Nigeria.