The PERSIF project funded by the African Development Bank conducted a two-day (2nd and 3rd August 2024) WASH Promotion training at the Kenema District Council.
The training was part of the government’s recovery effort to restore socio-economic opportunities destroyed by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and to build the resilience of former EVD hotspot communities. Beneficiaries of the training included Nurses, Headteachers, Artisans, Wash technicians, and entrepreneurs drawn from six (6) chiefdoms within the Kenema district.
The objectives of the training were:
- to enhance hygiene and sanitation skills and practices;
- to promote the maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities including pumps and solar-powered water systems that the project has constructed in Schools and communities and;
- to create a link between Pump technicians and entrepreneurs.
To undertake the training exercise, the Ministry of Social Welfare through the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) contracted Community Action for Social Initiative Sierra Leone (CASI-SL), a non-governmental organization to provide training on WASH and Hygiene Promotion, Entrepreneurship, and Management. The training was set to enhance the capacity of health management committees; School management committees; School health Clubs; Community artisans; and hygiene promoters on how to identify issues and challenges that affect Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) functionality, how to develop proposals and mobilize resources to mitigate and solve potential problems relating to the operations, management and sustainability of water supply and sanitation services within the district.
During his closing remarks at the end of the training, the training consultant, Honorable Charles Abdulai, noted that the training is the first in a series that will be held in Western Area Rural, Portloko, and Bombali districts respectively.
