About Us

SHF works in partnership with private organisations, governments, CBOs, other NGOs with similar thematic areas of focus. Water as we know is everywhere but not enough to drink; women and children are faced each day with crossing great miles in search of water to drink and cook thence reducing the number of children going to school and the women having little time to build their capacity and do other chores. Water borne diseases arise as a result of such rural communities depending on streams, ponds as their only source of water which are also used for bathing and usage as waste disposal. One of the ways identified in curbing and reducing pandemics and other diseases is on provision of a sustainable water supply and sanitation facility with hygienic practices which ultimately must start from the home through the women and children.

Between 2010 and 2016, access to safe water actually declined by 5% which shows clearly that Nigeria is off the mark in meeting the SDG target for water. Sanitation coverage data indicate that only about 34% of the population in Nigeria (WHO & UNICEF Report of 2016) was using improved sanitation thus the nation needs to address the yawning gap of 66% of the population who are not covered.

Due to the insufficient/lack of safe drinking water and accessibility to the available functional water supply in rural communities, an average household of 10 members depends on water vendors. The purchase of water from the vendors poses a huge burden and drain on the income earned hence the need to tackle and provide adequate access to safe drinking water and hygienic facilities.

This lack of water supply and sanitation facilities affects many facets of the lives of women and children in the rural communities.

• Outbreaks of water borne diseases as streams, ponds are mainly the only source of water supply.

• Outbreaks of malaria due to stagnant water, ponds, streams e.t.c.

• Prevalence of unhygienic health practices and food preparation

• Poor sanitary conditions which leads to open defecation, leaking pit holes and open pit latrines

• Lack of knowledge of water management and low levels of income.

• Increased morbidity and mortality

SHF believes that with provision of access to water supply, sanitation facilities together with trainings on hygiene practices, home management of malaria, improved nutrition and basic healthcare services ; rural communities will reap developmental dividends thus improving health, life expectancy and economy will increase; what's more, SHF continues with advisory monitoring of sanitary conditions, hygienic practices and healthcare services are maintained even after the programmes have ended.

With time, we hope to ensure that more rural communities have access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities with the requisite knowledge of hygiene practices and basic primary healthcare services .