Zamfara State Government has installed new water facilities in Birnin Ruwa community, Gusau, as part of efforts to sustain the fight against cholera.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after inspecting the facilities, the Zamfara State Programme Manager, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSAN), Dr Abubakar Nasiru Galadima, said the gesture was aimed at providing the community with clean and hygienic water.
Dr Galadima explained that the installation followed a recent cholera outbreak which affected communities across 11 local government areas of the state, with health investigations confirming that unsafe water consumption was the primary cause.
According to him, Birnin Ruwa was identified as one of the worst-hit areas due to its population density.
He revealed that the project, undertaken by UNICEF in partnership with RUWATSAN, included the installation of an elevated surface tank with a daily capacity of 40,000 litres to supply safe drinking water to residents.
“The supply is split into two phases — 20,000 litres in the morning and another 20,000 litres in the evening — serving both Dan Bedi community and Birnin Ruwa Bayan Police Station,” he stated.
Dr Galadima noted that the tank is connected to the State Water Board’s pipeline for consistent refilling, with pumping machines provided to speed up distribution. He added that water trucking had been deployed for over six weeks to supply clean water to all affected areas.
He further disclosed that two boreholes would soon be constructed to reinforce water availability in the area.
The General Manager commended community leaders for their cooperation and urged them to take ownership of the facility to ensure proper maintenance.
Dr Galadima also lauded Governor Dauda Lawal’s Rescue Mission for prioritising public health and called on residents to support the administration’s efforts to deliver democratic dividends.
He equally applauded the Zamfara State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Lauwal Barau, for his all-round support in enabling the agency to deliver on its mandate.
