By Bisola Adeyemo
As the world celebrates Women and Girls in Science Day, the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, (APWEN) a non-governmental, has called on the general public to highlight the role of women in science and technology in solving water-related challenges.
Speaking on the theme of the year 2022, “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us”, the President of APWEN, Dr. Elizabeth Eterigho explained that, the Day was adopted by the United Nations to recognizes the critical role women and girls play in science and technology.
“In order to achieve full and equal access to science and participation for women and girls, and also to further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, It is not surprising that this year’s theme is coiled around what is common to all of us; water, the SDGs 6; which is clean water and sanitation; aimed to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
“Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, WASH, and Ocean issues are at the core of sustainable development because they are closely connected to several key global challenges such as energy, food security, biodiversity, health, climate change, among others.
“The United Nation recognized the role of women and girls in science, not only as beneficiaries but as key agents to effecting any change, including that of accelerating the achievement of ‘Clean Water and Sanitation for all’.
“Water is the only thing that unites irrespective of genders, ethnic, socio-cultural and religious backgrounds. However, its availability is scarce.
“According to the United Nations’ report, one in three people do not have access to safe drinking water globally, two out of five people do not have a basic hand-washing facility with soap and water, and more than 673 million people still practise open defecation.
“The World Health Organization reported that handwashing is one of the most effective actions to reduce spread or prevent infections. Yet billions of people still lack safe water sanitation, coupled with inadequate funding for water”, she said.
The United Nations at the General Assembly in 2015, had declared February 11, as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.