Ethiopia is all set to receive Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation Facilities

The government of Ethiopia declares the launch of its model water supply, sanitation and waste management system in the areas like Welenchiti Town, Oromia Region with an aim and intention to provide sufficient clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in the area.

State Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr Negash Wagesho, said that, "the Ministry plans to attain clean water supply coverage at rural, urban and national levels by the end of the second growth and transformation plan.

Dr Wagesho, further continued saying that, “The development of appropriate, flexible, sustainable and comprehensive water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is a must to safeguard sustainable development of the expeditiously growing towns to meet the targets set in the SDGs. To this target, the Ministry is working hand in hand with donors, non-governmental organisations and communities.” 

"So the project in Welenchiti Town highlighted and constituted the partnership between the UK, UNICEF and regional and federal government delivering improvements to local people’s livelihoods", as stated by the UK minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin.

The Minister also expressed out that the project will provide adequate clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to the population of the Welenchiti town and surrounding rural areas for the coming 20 years.

Dr Wagesho, in support to the minister's statement, further afformentioned that, "“Women and girls no longer have to walk long distances and spend many hours fetching water. Girls can go to school and attend to their schoolwork while mothers have enough time to spend with their children and involve in other productive activities. For communities, a safe and clean environment means fewer disease outbreaks.” 

The ONEWASH Plus programme, funded by the UK via Department for International Development, DFID and by regional governments, is executed by UNICEF in cooperation with the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, regional sector bureaus, and the Water Resource Development Fund.

The programme also works with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction, and appropriate Sector Regional Bureaus, as well as town administrations and town water supply and sewerage utilities.

The project which is under ONEWASH Plus programme, will combine solutions to provide WASH services to more than 48,000 people including more than 22,000 children under the age of 15, residing in the town and its satellite villages.