WaterAid, partners conduct Toilet Design Workshop to improve hygiene for women and girls
By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
WaterAid Nigeria in collaboration with Women Development Association for Self-Sustainance(WODASS) in Partnership with Bauchi state Environmental Protection Agency(BASEPA), Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA),has conducted a Toilet Design workshop with stakeholders in Bauchi state as part of efforts to review existing toilets designs by various WASH related Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The objective of the workshop was to identify gaps and improve on the new users center toilets designs which is tailored towards improving the hygiene of women, girls and persons with Disabilities and children.
Daily Independent reports that WaterAid Nigeria in partnership with WaterAid Australia with funding from a donor known as “Who Gives a Crap ” is implementing on an impact acceleration innovation challenge that ensures that women and girls can use public toilets with dignity without worries.
Speaking on the overview of the impact Accelerator Project at the Yamir Hotel in Bauchi, the State Team Lead WaterAid, Wando Akosu said that the project was hinged on a User-Centered design of public toilets with an objective of influencing the bauchi state government to provide toilets facilities that women and girls can use with dignity and without concerns using evidence from research.
She said that the execution of the project was carried out through strengthening the capacity of BASEPA and the ministry of environment on features and components of a female friendly toilet as well as engage a gender expert to access existing toilets in motor parks markets including User and Non-Users’ feedback.
According to her, other modes of execution of the project include findings/evidence from the assessment used to engage decision makes, engagement of Users.and Non-Users, Women groups, public toilet operators, persons with disabilities, organizations,.motor parks and Market associations to review the existing design of public toilets and also involve WASH Media network at the National level and Bauchi State to raise awareness on the issues.
Wandoo said during the project implementation in the state, accessibility and safety audit in 15 toilets in the motor parks and markets with Bauchi metropolis was conducted, adding some of the findings was that there were no separate toilet compartments for women, common entrance for men and women, no provision of separate compartments for menstrual hygiene and sanitary waste management, no access ramps for Persons with disabilities to use Independently and no separate compartments for PWDs.
his presentation on design for male and female public toilets , the WaterAid consultant, Engineer Ojelabi Mayokun said that when designing a toilet, factors that should be taken into consideration should include accessibility and safety audit, Climate Resilience, financial considerations and Service Providers inputs, adding that in the design of female-friendly toilet, it must be accessible, safe and privacy, affordable, cater for menstrual hygiene and meet the needs of Care-givers.