The Society for Family Health (SFH) on Saturday inaugurated a motorised borehole in Ikekogbe community, Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, ending years of water scarcity and exposure to waterborne diseases.
The borehole, delivered under SFH’s WASH for Healthy Lives project with funding from Procter & Gamble, is expected to provide residents with reliable access to clean and safe water.
In his address, the Chairman of Esan West Local Government Council, Mr Blessing Ebhodagha, said the project would significantly improve public health and living conditions in the community.
“Today, we are not just commissioning a borehole; we are commissioning hope and dignity for our people,” he said.
Ebhodagha noted that residents had long relied on unsafe water sources, leading to frequent cases of typhoid, cholera, and other preventable waterborne diseases.
He urged the community to take ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance.
“This borehole belongs to you. Protect it and sustain it. The cost of maintaining it is far less than the cost of treating diseases from dirty water,” he said.
Mr Nnamdi Anosike, SFH’s WASH for Healthy Lives Coordinator, explained that the organisation introduced the borehole component after realising that awareness alone could not sustain hygiene practices.
“We found that people reverted to unsafe practices due to lack of access to clean water. That is why we engaged our donor to support the provision of boreholes,” he said.
He added that the project, which started in 2022, has progressed through multiple phases and continues to expand, with Edo State remaining a key focus.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr Bamidele, said the intervention would reduce waterborne diseases and support socio-economic activities in the community.
“This project will enhance the well-being of the people and serve as a model for future collaborations,” he said.
The General Manager of the Edo State Small Town and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (STRUWASSA), Mr Murtala Okhakumhe, stated that the project aligns with efforts to ensure universal access to potable water.
“Access to safe water is fundamental to human development. This project reflects what collaboration can achieve,” he said.
Dr Ehis Oniyama, a representative of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, emphasised that access to clean water is critical to disease prevention and community health.
“This intervention is an investment in health and will help reduce waterborne diseases in the community,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr Sunday Iyare said residents had struggled with water shortages for years, resulting in frequent illnesses.
“This project will bring relief to our people,” he said, while pledging that the community would protect the facility.
He, however, called for security support to prevent vandalism and urged authorities and partners to extend similar projects to other affected communities.
