Malam Kabiru Jibrin, the chairman of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committee ( WASHCOM) of Tafawa Balewa local government area, Bauchi state, has identified the lack of clean water in the area as affecting children’s learning.

He stated this during a joint inspection of water projects by the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASSA) and WaterAid Nigeria in vulnerable communities of the local government, on Wednesday.

Jibrin said that the lack of clean water had seriously affected children’s learning, academic performance and attendance rates.

“Lack of safe water causes even the best students to lose momentum, as they dealt with stomach pains and diarrhea from disease and hunger.

“If teachers are sick, classes get cancelled for all students as well as delay them from coming to school early,” he said.

Jibrin noted that before the RUWASSA/WaterAid intervention the water situation had hindered their children’s effective learning, commending the two organisations for the intervention.

Earlier, RUWASSA representative, Malam Zaharadin Shehu said that the agency received funding from WaterAid Nigeria, to address the health hazards posed to the two communities of Pholantulu in Bununu ward and Tikangog in Tapshin ward in Tafawa Balewa LGA as a result of their total reliance on water from streams for their domestic consumption.

“This is the major reason for the choice of the two villages and this will also help to avert the outbreak of waterborne disease, like cholera,” he said.

He said arrangements had been concluded to commission the newly constructed water projects in the two most vulnerable communities.

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Also speaking, Mr Magaji Barde representing the implementing Civil Society Organization, expressed happiness over the clean environment, as well as the improved personal hygiene witnessed in the two communities.

He urged the communities to ensure maintenance and sustainability of hygiene behaviors, as well as the water project