WaterAid empowers volunteers in Ikorodu community to champion hygiene

WaterAid Nigeria has trained 30 Volunteer Hygiene promoters for Maya Aladiye and Maya Olorijo communities in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

Supreme news reports that the training is aimed at promoting hygiene behavioural change, as well as preventing disease outbreaks.

Supreme news reports that the three-day training, which ran from Wednesday to Friday, also focused on hand-washing, safe water, environmental cleanliness and ending open defecation within the community.

Speaking at the event on Friday, the Community Development Council Chairman of Maya Olurijo Phase Two, Mr Victor Ologhobo, described the initiative as timely and impactful.

He said the training had improved residents’ understanding of hygiene, sanitation and disease prevention.

‘’Participants are now equipped to educate others and promote cleaner living environments across the community, ‘’he said.

Also speaking, facilitator of the programme at Maya Olorijo, Mrs Bibire Hassan, said the training aimed to introduce hygiene behavioural change, through community-based volunteers.

She disclosed that 15 volunteers were trained at Maya Olorijo, to cascade hygiene messages to households and community members.

‘’Continuous engagement and follow-up will ensure sustainability and long-term behavioural change, ‘’ she said.

In the same vein, facilitator of Maya Aladiye, Mr Tosin Aremu, also said that 15 volunteers were trained on hygiene practices, including hand-washing, clean toilets, menstrual hygiene and safe drinking water.

Reacting to the training, a volunteer at Maya Aladiye, Mr Boladele Ajasa, said the training exposed the dangers of open defecation and disease transmission.

’The knowledge gained will help improve hygiene practices and protect public health in the community,” he said

Supreme news reports that the volunteers also held a sensitisation walk around the community, calling for hygiene behaviour change.