Fatima Maada Bio on how to achieve better sanitary & hygiene outcomes in Africa

The African Ministers Council on Water, a Pan-African Intergovernmental Organization, has appointed the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio, as the Africa Champion for Sanitation and Hygiene. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio emphasized the magnitude of the problem facing the continent in terms of water and sanitation. With almost 400 million people in Africa lacking access to safe water and over 700 million without adequate sanitation, the impact on health, education, and the economy is significant. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, highlighting the urgent need for improved sanitation and hygiene practices. First Lady Fatima Maada Bio stressed the importance of prioritizing water and sanitation as key components for a clean and sanitized continent. In her role as the Africa Champion for Sanitation and Hygiene, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio outlined her vision and plans to address these pressing issues. She emphasized the need for advocacy to go beyond policies and into actionable measures that engage communities and stakeholders at all levels. By engaging member states and encouraging financial commitments towards sanitation and hygiene, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio aims to make significant progress in the next six months. Additionally, she plans to work with fellow First Ladies across Africa to promote sanitation and hygiene as a top priority on the continent. The upcoming Head of State Summit in 2022 will provide a platform to engage heads of state and garner their support for collective action. In terms of setting targets and measuring progress, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio highlighted the importance of negotiation and engagement with member states and communities. Drawing from her successful experience with the Hands Off Our Girls campaign in Sierra Leone, she expressed confidence in achieving tangible results through effective communication and collaboration. By working from the grassroots level to the highest levels of government, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio aims to drive meaningful change in sanitation and hygiene practices across Africa. Furthermore, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio emphasized the significance of menstrual hygiene and its impact on women and girls. As a passionate advocate for menstrual hygiene, she underscored the need to break taboos and promote open conversations about this crucial issue. By providing sanitary pads to girls in schools and rural areas, she has already made a tangible difference, highlighting the importance of access to menstrual hygiene products. Her efforts have inspired similar initiatives in other countries, showcasing the ripple effect of impactful interventions. In closing, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio reiterated the urgency of addressing sanitation and hygiene challenges in Africa. By prioritizing water and sanitation as fundamental rights, she believes that collective action and collaborative efforts are essential to achieving a cleaner and healthier continent. Through advocacy, engagement, and targeted initiatives, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio is spearheading a movement towards better sanitary and hygiene outcomes in Africa.