SWAPHEP was founded on August 10, 1998, by Hope E. Ogbeide (Initiator), Matthew Ogbodu, Mercy Ogbeide and Lambert O. Egharevba.
The idea to found an organization that focuses on water and public health started in Nassarawa State of Nigeria during the National Youth Service (NYSC) of Hope E. Ogbeide. Hope was moved to do something about the plight of the people in the state who drank very unclean water and hardly had access to pipe-borne water. The height of this was when a Youth Corps colleague of his started passing out blood-stained urine, which was a result of the unclean water which he had been consuming.

Back in Benin City, Hope's hometown, he shared his vision with the other founding members and they agreed to have an organization by the name Society for Water-borne Diseases Control (SWADIC), which was later to evolve into the current NGO called Society for Water & Public Health Protection (SWAPHEP), which has a wider focus area than the original SWADIC.

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:

A. Successful Campaign against the dredging of Ikpoba River in Benin City. The dredging of Ikpoba River (a major source of domestic water to over 5,000 people in Benin City and surrounding communities in Edo State) began in February 2000 by the Edo State Government. SWAPHEP was the strongest NGO voice against the unwholesome act. After one year of serious field analysis, interviews (where
environmental testimonies were obtained from the people), campaigns and advocacy, the government stopped it. Reports are available.

B. Progress in anti- flood Campaign in Benin City. Benin City is notorious for the flood that has taken over major roads such as the Uselu-Lagos Road (by a popular site called Tomeline). Flood Disasters have rocked many communities such as Useh Community (by Teachers' House), Egua Edaeken Community etc., for more than a decade. SWAPHEP started its campaign against the situation in November 1999 with a field visit to Useh Community and has been in touch with the flood victims in that community since then. Several reports and publications, which were published by national daily newspapers, served as advocacy materials. Today the community is better off. Edo State Government has provided a burrow pit to drain the flood from the area. This is a temporary measure. We hope government will provide a drainage system for the community. The entire Benin metropolis is still terribly flooded. Long traffic holed ups, environmental; property, socio-economic and human disasters as well as high public health risks are still associated with the city. More details in reports.

SWAPHEP in Water Dome at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Johannesburg, August 26th - September 3rd 2002. SWAPHEP had an exhibition at the Water Dome, an officially recognized parallel event with the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) organized by the International Water Management Instititute (IWMI) and the African Task Force on Water. SWAPHEP was invited courtesy Freshwater Action Network (FAN), which organized NGO participation at the event. SWAPHEP is a member of FAN.

Water Dome was an opportunity for SWAPHEP to showcase its solution water and sanitation approaches on a global scale. Focus was on water-related disaster risk management (mainly floods/storm water and dam-related risks). Other areas included the organization's sanitation initiatives - People's Initiatives for a Clean Environment (PICK) - and gender.

SWAPHEP at the African Regional Ministerial Conference On Water (ARMCOW), Abuja April 29th-30th 2002. SWAPHEP had an exhibition at the ARMCOW, which was launched in Abuja April 29th - 30th, 2002. The NGO exhibited its solution-oriented initiatives at the conference. It also granted an interview to the press through, which the organization called on the African Water Ministers to pay attention to the grossly inadequate sanitation facilities in the region. The organization canvassed for alternative, affordable, easy-to-manage, and environment friendly local water supply technologies to supply water to African people instead of huge capital-intensive technologies such as large dams, which are highly technocratic and environmentally unfriendly.

The NGO joined other civil society organizations to call on the water ministers to integrate the civil society into the process of ARMCOW, observing that the process employed by the ARMCOW to reach the Abuja Declaration did not give the civil society the opportunity to make an input into the declaration.

Public Enlightenment Programmes:

Roundtable conference on "Looking Away from Large Dams, and Towards Alternative Energy Sources in Nigeria - the Way to Life" held in Benin City, Marc 14th 2001to mark the International Day against Dams, and for Water and Life.

Seminar on "Clean Practices for Women Development" held in Benin City on August 30 -31, 200`1.

Public Lecture on "Dams and Development in Nigeria" held in Benin City, March 14th 2002.

Water Stakeholders' Meeting on "Mobilizing Support for Global Action for Water (GAWA)", held in Benin City, 0ctober 22nd, 2002.

OUR MISSION

- To ensure local peoples' access to adequate clean water that meets their demands, ensuring the sustainable management of fresh water resources and mainstreaming local peoples' needs in the control and management of their own water resources.

- SWAPHEP takes its mandate from Agenda 21 of the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit with a commitment to ensuring freshwater security and equal accessibility to water resources.

- SWAPHEP promotes a "Water for People" and pro-poor agenda with particular emphasis on women and children who bear the burdens of water and health crisis without neglecting the male folks.

OBJECTIVES

- To influence governments decisions, legislations and policies through lobbying and other non - violent means with a view to mainstreaming 'integration' 'local participation' and 'equity' in water management and other development issues..

- To generate public awareness projects on water management, public health and grassroots development

- To mainstream gender equity in decision making process involving water, health and development.

- To undertake research projects, document the findings and make same available as resources materials for research purposes and good governance.

- To embark on direct intervention projects that will help to enhance fresh water quality, conserve fresh water quantity as well as enhance the socio - economic empowerment of local people.

- To collaborate and work in partnership with local and international organizations, agencies and individuals who share the organisation's goals.

- To join in the struggle for global water security.

- To establish information resource centres / databases.

- To participate in local and international dialogues in areas of our focus.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF:

Management Committee:

Hope E. Ogbeide (Director); Etiosa Uyigue (ProgrammeManager); Ms. Ekaete J. Umoh (Head of Gender); Ms. Iyobosa Idele (Finance Manager).

Board of Trustees:

Hope E. Ogbeide, Matthew Ogbodu, Mercy Ogbeide, Etiosa Uyigue, Lambert O Egharevba.

Board of Advisers:

Prof. E. A.C. Nwanze, Dr.(Mrs.) Folu M. Ogbe, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Dr. Omokhua Adeleye, Dr. C.E.Okaka, Dr. Tony Okonkwo. Dr. Osagie Obayuwana.

Matrons and Patrons:

Hon. (Mrs.) Esohe Jacobs, Dr.(Mrs.) M. O. Kadiri, Dr. A. E. Ogbeibu