HANANG District Commissioner, Almishi Hazali said yesterday that the government is determined to ensure inclusive and safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services to citizens, commending WaterAid Tanzania for constructing 425m/- worth facilities for residents at the area.

Hazali made the remarks when speaking during the handover of WASH facilities at Bashang and Laghanga dispensaries as well as Laghanga Primary School, in Hanang District, Manyara Region.

“WaterAid Tanzania funded implementation of projects for constructing toilet facilities, rainwater harvesting systems and water storage tanks. These projects will benefit nearly 20,048 people from Laghanga, Wareta, and surrounding villages,” remarked the DC.

She called upon WaterAid Tanzania and other stakeholders to continue supporting government efforts towards ensuring inclusive and safe water and sanitation services.

WaterAid Tanzania Country Director, Ana Mzinga said the projects have been completed within one year with funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Mzinga said in September 2023, the organization launched implementation of the projects in Katesh during a stakeholder meeting, adding they are all completed and residents have started to benefit.

“We acknowledge the great cooperation we received from the government and experts as the projects are 100 percent complete,” she said, mentioning them as the construction of improved toilet facilities, clean water distribution infrastructure, WASH facilities and provision of education to the community on the use of the new infrastructures.

Mzinga added that WaterAid Tanzania executes its activities in collaboration with the government for purposes of ensuring provision of clean and safe water, improved sanitation and safe hygiene environments to citizens.

Leah Kaguara, WaterAid Regional Director said the organization launched its new global strategy in 2022 and the East African Country programs including Tanzania developed and launched their strategies in 2023. She said the strategy will go up to 2028.

“Our 1st aim under this strategy focuses on supporting the attainment of sustainable inclusive and safe WASH services in the Hanang District for wider change while the second aim focuses on prioritizing WASH across the health sector to improve public health”, she noted.

Kaguara said that ending the WASH crisis requires a massive shift, and that successes attained through the completed project contributes to the aimed shift.

WaterAid with support from donors like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will continue to work in Hanang District to support government initiatives that aim at ensuring that everyone has sustainable inclusive and safe WASH services.