In Northeast Nigeria, communities face daily struggles for clean water, safe sanitation, and proper hygiene. Years of conflict, displacement, and limited infrastructure have left millions—especially women, children, and vulnerable groups—without reliable access to these basic necessities.
At Support for All Foundation (SFAF), we believe that Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are not luxuries but lifelines. They are the foundation of health, dignity, and resilience in a region working hard to recover from crisis.
The WASH Challenge in Northeast Nigeria
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Water Scarcity: Many displaced families depend on contaminated streams or seasonal ponds, increasing exposure to waterborne diseases.
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Sanitation Gaps: Open defecation is still widespread due to lack of functional latrines, putting communities—especially children—at high health risk.
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Hygiene Barriers: Limited access to soap and poor awareness of safe hygiene practices continue to drive preventable illnesses like diarrhea and cholera.
These challenges directly affect school attendance, maternal health, and community productivity, reinforcing the cycle of poverty and vulnerability.
SFAF’s WASH Response
SFAF is committed to turning the tide by:
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Expanding Safe Water Access: We install and rehabilitate boreholes, wells, and water systems in hard-to-reach and displaced communities.
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Promoting Safe Sanitation: We support eco-friendly latrine construction and run campaigns to eliminate open defecation.
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Driving Hygiene Awareness: Our programs focus on handwashing, menstrual hygiene management, and household sanitation practices.
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Integrating WASH into Emergencies: In IDP camps and flood-affected areas, we deliver emergency WASH kits and mobile sanitation solutions.
Impact on the Ground
In 2024, SFAF worked with a displaced community in Yobe State where families relied on unsafe water sources. Within three months of rehabilitating a borehole, distributing hygiene kits, and training local WASH volunteers:
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Diarrhea cases dropped by 40%,
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Women reported improved dignity and safety,
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Children returned to school more regularly.
These small wins demonstrate how WASH transforms lives—restoring health, dignity, and hope.
Our 5-Year Outlook
By 2030, SFAF aims to:
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Reach 50,000 people with sustainable access to safe water.
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Ensure 200 schools integrate WASH programs for students and teachers.
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Train 1,000 youth and women leaders as WASH champions in their communities.
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Achieve a 30% reduction in preventable waterborne diseases in our focus areas.
Conclusion & Call to Action
WASH is the starting point for a stronger Northeast Nigeria. Without clean water and safe sanitation, progress in education, health, and livelihoods cannot be sustained.
SFAF is calling on partners, donors, private sector actors, and government stakeholders to join us in scaling WASH interventions across the region. Together, we can ensure that every child has safe water to drink, every girl can go to school with dignity, and every family can live in a healthier environment.
💧 Water is life. Sanitation is dignity. Hygiene is health.
