ABOUT 58 church leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) from three Districts in Honiara have attended a half-day Sanitation Institutional Triggering Workshop on Monday, March 3, in Honiara.
The workshop with a themed “The Role of Christianity in Sanitation Improvements in Solomon Islands,” was organised by UNICEF and supported by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) with funding from DFAT.
The workshop was held at the Mendana Hotel and attended by Pastors, Ministers, and Elders from the East, Central, and West Honiara Districts.
This sanitation workshop was part of the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan (NSSP) Phase 2 Project, which ADRA is currently implementing across four islands in the Western Province: Kolobangara, South Vela, Rannogah, and Simbo.
The project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through UNICEF and implemented by ADRA.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, ADRA Country Director Leyn Elizer Gantare has emphasized the significance of the event in helping church leaders address sanitation issues in both churches and communities.
“I acknowledged DFAT and UNICEF which has been very supportive of this project through ADRA that helping communities to improve sanitation conditions.”
The Director revealed that many villages in the Western Province still practice open defecation, and through UNICEF’s support, ADRA aims to reduce this practice.
“Under the NSSP Phase 2 Project, ADRA has successfully declared 12 communities as No Open Defecation (NOD) zones in the Western Province. We are continuing to work with communities, and more will soon achieve NOD status”
“I encourage all pastors, ministers, and elders attending this workshop to share the message of sanitation with your congregations and emphasize the importance of proper sanitation in your communities, ’’ADRA Director further appealed the church leaders who attended the workshop.
Meanwhile, UNICEF WASH Specialist Issifu Adama expressed his gratitude to the church leaders for attending the workshop.
“I appreciate all church leaders for their participation in this important workshop”
“Sanitation is not a new issue for you as church leaders, but this workshop serves as a reminder of its importance in both churches and communities, ’he said during the opening of the workshop.
Meanwhile Former Vura Ward Councillor and Naha SDA Church Elder, Reginald Ngati, thanked UNICEF and ADRA for organizing the event.
“The message of sanitation is not new to us as Adventists. Our church’s health department has always emphasized good health and sanitation,”
“However, the challenge we face is practicing what we preach. This workshop has reminded us of the need to implement proper sanitation in our churches, ’Mr Ngati said.
West Honiara District Director, Minister Bryan Solomon, also shared similar sentiments, calling the workshop a “timely and essential reminder” for church leaders.
“I plan to share what I’ve learned with my congregation and my family, encouraging them to build proper sanitation facilities,” Solomon said.
Bongi Darlingi, an elder of Zion SDA Church and Community Development Officer (CPO) for Marovo Constituency, also found the workshop valuable.
“I recently returned from visiting my constituency, and one of the major challenges we face is the lack of proper sanitation”
“This workshop is very important, and I assure UNICEF and ADRA that I will advocate for sanitation to be included in our constituency’s development plans, ’Mr Bongi announced during the workshop.
The sanitation workshop was facilitated by UNICEF Programme Officer Erick Hale and UNICEF WASH Specialist Issifu Adama, with the support from ADRA.
Source: ADRA Press Release
