In a major move to tackle health risks associated with water, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, and OPS-WASH have launched the National Water Quality Advocacy Handbook.
Launched at the Annual Water Quality Conference in Abuja, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between technical water safety standards and everyday household practices.
Empowering Communities with Practical Tools
The handbook serves as a comprehensive guide for families, policymakers, and industry players. It focuses on several critical areas of water safety:
Risk Identification: Learning to spot potential contamination.
Safe Handling & Storage: Maintaining purity from the source to the cup.
Household Treatment: Simple methods to purify water at home.
Community Protection: Strategies to keep local water sources clean.
A central theme of the campaign is that visibility does not equal safety; water that looks clear can still harbor invisible, dangerous contaminants.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasised that sustained public awareness and education are the only way to achieve long-term water safety.
“Individuals and communities must be equipped with the knowledge to adopt safe practices and protect their health,” Utsev stated during the unveiling.
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Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Victoria Uwadoka, who represented the Managing Director of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Wassim Elhusseini, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to water stewardship.
“Our commitment extends beyond our operations to protecting shared water resources… we are strengthening water quality standards and promoting safer practices for families,” she stated.
Dr. Nicholas Igwe of the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (OPS-WASH) added that the handbook is a vital tool for identifying technical and financial gaps in Nigeria’s water infrastructure, fostering a more “integrated solution” to sanitation challenges.
Nationwide Rollout
To ensure the information reaches those who need it most, the partners have outlined a multi-channel distribution strategy:
Digital Access: Available for download online for instant reach.
Physical Distribution: Coordination with government bodies like RUWASSA to get hard copies into rural areas.
Grassroots Campaign: A nationwide sensitisation effort to drive the adoption of these safe water behaviours.
The initiative marks a collaborative effort to transform water safety from a technical policy into a national priority and a daily habit for all Nigerians.
