Clean Kano, Healthy Lives: A Public Health Revolution in Waste Management

By Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman

Aisha, a 12 year old, gazes out from her humble home in Fagge Local Government Area (LGA), Kano, her eyes fixed on the bustling street below. The rainy season has brought heavy downpours, and the drainages have been clogged with plastic waste, leading to intense flooding.

For Aisha, this has meant disrupted school days, health risks, and a constant struggle to keep her living area clean. ” We couldn’t walk outside without stepping in dirty water, and the smell made it hard to breathe, but since the cleaning activities [started], the streets are much better, and I don’t miss as many school days because the roads aren’t flooded anymore.”

However, change comes to Aisha’s community, driven by Al-Huda Health and Youth Development Organization’s commitment. Every week, Al-Huda organizes sanitation drives, mobilizing residents to clean their surroundings.

“Our mission is to build lives and change lives, and our vision includes combating climate change and its impact,” Ruqqaya Jafar Suleiman Al-Huda’s Executive Director noted. “Topromote environmental sustainability, improve air quality for all wellbeing, to end poverty, improve maternal and child health, to ensure good health and wellbeing for all, to protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all goals are geared towards achieving and creating sustainable future.”

Poor sanitation in Kano

⁠Kano state, in northwestern Nigeria, confronts a range of environmental and health challenges, from pervasive plastic pollution and inadequate sanitation to climate change-exacerbated vulnerabilities. “Before Al-Huda’s intervention, our neighborhood was often plagued by cholera outbreaks. Their hygiene education and sanitation efforts have made a huge difference. We rarely see these diseases now, and the environment is much cleaner,” Fatima Muhammad, another resident who has witnessed the transformation, explained.

Through a range of initiatives, the organisation addresses environmental degradation, pollution, and health disparities, prioritizing vulnerable populations and mitigating the impacts of poor hygiene and climate change.

“We’ve implemented community-based hygiene programs focusing on hand washing, proper waste disposal, and clean water access, particularly in underserved areas,” according to Auwal Adam Sansa, the Health Officer and Program Coordinator at Al-Huda. “We sustain these practices by engaging community leaders, conducting regular follow-up visits, providing hygiene kits  (such as Hand sanitizers, face masks, soap, disinfecting wipes, gloves, garbage bags, cleaning brushes, mops, brooms, detergents, bleach, water purification tablets, and tissue paper) and offering continuous education to reinforce these practices,” he explained.

 

Sansa said the impact of these programs has been substantial. “In a recent initiative, we observed a 40% reduction in waterborne diseases within six months due to improved hand washing and sanitation in rural communities.”

Sadiya Ibrahim Yusuf, a healthcare professional at Sabo Garba Fagge A Hospital, validated Sansa’s assertions by highlighting the organization’s impactful work in decreasing the incidence of waterborne illnesses like cholera, and diarrhea.

“We used to handle about five to ten cases daily –translating to approximately 200 to 300 cases monthly. However, thanks to the awareness initiative, we have seen a significant reduction in cases.

“The organisation advises people to drink treated water and wash vegetables properly, especially with salt, before consuming them. They also emphasize the importance of environmental sanitation, particularly maintaining clean toilets and waste bins,” she explained.

Regular sanitation exercise

Suleiman stressed the organization’s dedication to conducting regular sanitation initiatives throughout Kano. “We organize weekly sanitation programs in Fagge and other areas. This involves cleaning the environment, removing leather and plastic waste, and encouraging recycling among community members.”

The impact of Al-Huda’s initiatives in Kano extends beyond just cleaning up the streets, Ruqqaya noted that through their regular community activities, they have ignited a powerful sense of ownership among residents. “Our approach involves working closely with community leaders and empowering residents with the tools and knowledge they need to keep their environment clean,” she added. This hands-on approach not only improves hygiene but also fosters a sense of community responsibility.

Integrating climate change adaptation

Aftahana Dahiru Sarina, Climate Change Specialist at Al-Huda, described how the organisation integrates climate change adaptation into its hygiene programs, “we use community education, sustainability practices, monitoring and evaluation to address the dual challenges of climate change and public health. Our strategies include workshops, physical meetings with stakeholders, and advocacy to educate communities about climate change and its impact on health.”

         

According to Suleiman, the organisation in collaboration with other climate activists, led a massive anti-plastic pollution campaign, cleaning up areas from Dangi Flyover to Gidan Zoo on the ‘World Environmental Day’ last year under 2023 COYEC Project 2023 . She added that Al-Huda, alongside SDG advocates, educated the residents on proper waste disposal to prevent water contamination, thereby addressing one of the key health challenges in the area.

                     

Al-Huda launched the ‘Climate Action Warrior Club’ in Wailari Government Girls Secondary School to further its climate change agenda and empower students to take action against climate change through tree planting and environmental sustainability activities.

“As part of Al-Huda’s educational campaigns, such as the tree planting activities and climate change workshops, we have instilled a deeper understanding of the need for environmental responsibility, especially among young people. We educate them about the impacts of climate change and also planted 300 trees as part of our tree planting campaign.” Suleiman explained.

Maryam Shuaibu, a student from Bayero University Kano, exemplifies the youth empowerment aspect of Al-Huda’s work.  “After attending Al-Huda’s climate action workshop, I became a climate change ambassador at my university. I now educate my peers about the importance of hygiene and its relation to climate change,” she said.

                         

 

Facing challenges

Despite its successes, Suleiman noted that there are still challenges in sustaining and scaling its initiatives. These includes limited funding, issues driven by climate change and cultural barriers.

“One of our major challenges is funding. The scale of the work we are doing requires continuous financial support, and we often have to operate with limited resources.

“Additionally, there is a need for more widespread community involvement. While we have seen significant improvements, it can sometimes be difficult to maintain the momentum and ensure that everyone is committed to long-term hygiene and climate adaptation practices,” she said.

Sustaining Impact

Reflecting on their achievements, Sansa highlights their hygiene programs’ success and contribution to climate resilience. “Our programs have had a profound impact on public health by reducing the incidence of climate-related diseases. By promoting proper sanitation and safe water practices, we have seen a marked decrease in diseases such as malaria, cholera, and diarrhea.”

The Director of Al-Huda organisation highlighted the importance of community involvement which is sustaining these programs, “the feedback from the communities we work with has been overwhelmingly positive. Residents are taking pride in their cleaner environments and are more aware of the importance of proper hygiene and environmental care.”

She also added that Al-Huda Organisation works closely with health professionals, climate educators, and government agencies like the Ministry of Environment and Kano Geographical Information System (Kano GIS) to identify other communities with poor hygiene conditions to create broader impact.

This SOJO report is published in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch through the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative.