From Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government, through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), in collaboration with UNICEF, and with support from the Netherlands, has trained 21 Local Area Mechanics (LAMs), including 2 females, on the assessment, operation, and maintenance of hand pumps and solar-powered water systems.
The training was conducted in line with the Village Level Operation and Management (VLOM) concept, which aims to empower communities to manage and maintain their water facilities.
Speaking at the closing ceremony at a hotel in Kaduna on Thursday, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Birukila, emphasised the importance of building local capacity to ensure long-term access to clean water and sanitation in rural communities.
According to her, it’s not enough to provide water facilities like boreholes or sanitation infrastructure if they can’t be repaired when they break down. So sustainability is key,” she said.
Similarly, the Director General of the Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mubarak Shehu Ladan, reiterated that the training was designed not just to provide skills, but to foster local ownership of water infrastructure.
“Constructing facilities and handing them over to communities is not enough. There must be strategies for proper ownership and long-term maintenance,” he maintained.
The training was conducted in line with the Village Level Operation and Management (VLOM) concept, which aims to empower communities to manage and maintain their water facilities.
According to the Water Sanitation & Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) 2021, access to basic water in Kaduna State stands at 45%, below the national average of 67%.
The functionality of water systems in the state is also a concern, with only 59% of water points considered dependable. The VLOM concept is designed to address these challenges by training LAMs to take responsibility for the operation and maintenance of water facilities.
The training was conducted based on several objectives, including:Creating a space to empower communities to take ownership of their water facilities and manage them effectively.
To mobilize Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMS) to be responsible for the operation and management of water facilities.
To facilitate the establishment of water user fees or tariff systems in communities for the operation and maintenance of water facilities.
The training was aimed at promoting ownership of WASH facilities by empowering communities to manage and maintain their drinking water sources.
The training benefited 12 LGAs in Kaduna State, including Kagarko and Lere, which are part of the ASWA III programme, and 10 ODF (Open Defecation Free) LGAs, which have attained LGA-wide ODF status.
The trained LAMs were equipped with the necessary skills and tools to maintain and repair water facilities in their respective communities.
Certificates of recognition and participation were handed over to the 21 trained LAMs, along with complete sets of handpump and solar motorized borehole tools and spare parts for field practical repairs.
The training is expected to improve the functionality and sustainability of water facilities in the state, increasing access to safe drinking water for communities.
By empowering LAMs and promoting community ownership, the VLOM concept aims to ensure that water facilities are managed and maintained effectively, reducing the risk of breakdowns and improving the overall water supply in the state
