By Azuka Offor
The Anambra State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has called for functional Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOMs) in rural communities to ensure effective management and sustainability of public water facilities.
The Programme Manager of RUWASSA, Mr. Tochukwu Nwosu, made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement at Agu-Orji Primary School, Igbariam Farm Settlement, Anambra East Local Government Area, stressing that community ownership was essential to sustaining access to safe water.
He urged communities with government-supported water schemes to establish or strengthen WASHCOMs, noting that such committees promote proper usage, routine maintenance, accountability and protection of facilities against vandalism.
The engagement followed disagreements over the management of an existing water scheme, which was established in 2009 with support from the European Union and UNICEF. The facility’s solar-powered pumping system developed faults in 2019 but was restored in 2023 through the intervention of a community member, Mr. Arinze Oraekwu.
Mr. Oraekwu, Secretary of Village 2, explained that although he was not a member of the original WASHCOM, he voluntarily took responsibility for protecting the facility because of its importance to farmers and other community users.
Responding, the Chairman of Village 2 and Chairman of Chairmen of the three villages, Mr. Ikechukwu Orabuenyi, commended his commitment and assured that he would be incorporated into the reconstituted WASHCOM. He also pledged to convene a meeting of community leaders to facilitate the process.
RUWASSA assured the community of technical guidance and support through the Local Government WASH Unit, while its Water Supply Officer, Mr. Emeka Udeze, called for stronger collaboration towards restoring the reticulated water supply system serving the primary school.
The team also observed that the school’s toilet facility was non-functional and urged the community to undertake the necessary repairs, emphasizing that community ownership included routine maintenance of public facilities.
Other participants included the Headmistress of Agu-Orji Primary School, Mrs. Maureen Nnaama; Anambra East Local Government Sanitation Officer, Mrs. Okpala Emelia; RUWASSA Assistant Hygiene Officer, Mrs. Uju Adindu; and Village 2 Youth Chairman, Mr. Ifeanyi Odikpo, alongside other community leaders.
The meeting ended with a commitment by the community leadership to reconstitute the WASHCOM and incorporate Mr. Oraekwu, reinforcing RUWASSA’s position that sustainable rural water supply requires active community participation, responsible leadership and collective responsibility for protecting public infrastructure.
Azuka is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State.
#RUWASSA #WaterIsLife #AnambraState
