Ekiti State Small Towns, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation Agency (EK-STRUWASSA) has held a 2-day Training Programme for the Local Government Water Sanitation and Hygiene Officers on the process of forming and establishing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committees and Water Consumer Associations, (WASHCOM/WCA) across the benefitting communities in the State.

The training programme is aimed at facilitating Water Sanitation and Hygiene Departments across nine benefiting LGAs in the State on the modalities for establishing WASHCOM,/WCA for the maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities at the small town and rural community levels.

Addressing participants at the training programme in Oye Ekiti, the General Manager of EK-STRUWASSA, Mr Ayo Alegbeleye who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Sanitation , Mrs Lanre Ayeni, explained that the training became necessary for building the capacity of Local Government WASH Officers and Civil Society Organizations to be trainers on WASHCOM/WCA formation at Community level towards entrenching methods that would lead to better achievements and positive results in Community Management on WASH facilities across the Local Government Areas in the State .

He reiterated the commitment and the engagement of the State Government on the previous Partnership Expanded Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene(PEWASH) Programmes towards ensuring that Ekiti people have access to Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, noting that WASHCOM /WCA needs to be institutionalized at the Community level to manage and sustain better access to the facilities.

Mr Alegbeleye listed the roles of WASHCOM/ WCA plan to be established to include : owning and maintaining all Water facilities within the Communities, design as well as the Implementation of an appropriate tariff collection mechanisms with the support of LGAs WASH Departments.

In her remarks, the Director of Sanitation at Ekiti Small Town, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation Agency EK-STRUWASSA, Mrs Lanre Ayeni, who stated that the Committee would forge a strong collaboration between the Communities, Local Government Areas and States involved in delivery of WASH Service at the Community level, charged participants to pay attention to the content of the training adding that, participatory culture would help build their capacity and understanding towards reducing chances of conflict among the members of proposed committee to be established after the seminar.

She explained that the establishment of WASHCOM/ WCA was very key towards making any intended or existing program successful because they were meant for Sustainability of WASH facilities, noting that the Community inclusiveness from the beginning was of great importance, hence the need for the Community to have WASHCOM/WCA Committee being established at each entry point for ownership purposes as well as design a strategy for maintenance and durability of the WASH facilities.

One of the Directors trained at forum from Ikole Local Government, who is also the Coordinator of Local Government WASH Officers across the 16 LGAs , Mr. Ayo Ogundare, described the training as timely for the WASH officers.

He promised on behalf of participants to commence the formation process of establishing WASHCOM/ WCA immediately at their various Communities for the management and sustainability of WASH facilities .