A solar powered borehole valued at N7.8 million in Ndong Nwong, Odukpani local government area of Cross River State has been commissioned by Water and Development Alliance (WADA), a global partnership between United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
The USAID Mission Director, Mr. Stephen Haykin represented by Dr. Joachim Ezeji noted that WADA is a partnership between the USAID and the Coca-Cola Foundation that has for the past two years successfully collaborated with the state and local government in Cross River and Abia State.
He said the partnership has already improved and expanded access to safe and reliable water sanitation services for nearly 48,800 people and sanitation for nearly 11,000 people in 58 rural communities.
“But as this ceremony attests, we are not finished. With the Coca-Cola, we are improving access to clean water with more projects like you see here today. All, told we are improving access to clean water in 12 schools, four medical centers and two market area in each of four LGAs in the two states to the benefits of 56,000 people,” he said.
The representative of the Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mrs. Nwamaka Onyemelukwe stated that the partnership with USAID to provide safe, clean and affordable water to communities is part of the organization’s social corporate responsibility.
“This project has also helped improved coordination between the Federal Government, State and LGAs, and serves as a model on articulation of development plans and resources flow from natural ministries, departments and agencies down to the state and level authorities down to the community level,” she said.
She noted that the activities promise to increase governmental capacity and coordination, strengthen participation and ownership, clarify investment mechanisms and public finances management and accountability to better attract investments in water and sanitation.
Responding on behalf of the benefitting community, Mr. Nsa Ekeng Okon said potable water had remained a very serious problem in the community.
“The result had been an outbreak of water borne disease mostly during the dry season. The general experience was high rate of infant mortality and short life span but with the provision of borehole water in the community and introduction of ventilated inverted pit toilet, those diseases have become things of the past,”