Environment
Agency Blames Water-Borne Diseases For Children’s Stunted Growth
The WaterAid Nigeria
has condemned the high rate of water-related diseases in the country, saying it aids stunted growth in children.
The organisation’s Country Representative Dr Michael Ojo, made this known to newsmen in Abuja, while reacting to the upsurge of water-related diseases since 2012.
“There are diseases that are waterborne, water related and some that are linked to water and we have health conditions which have requirements for water.
“We need to highlight the impact of Water; Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) on health, especially on the health of our children.
“There are children dying every day in our country and not only from diarrhoea, but also other water related diseases.
“For those of our children who don’t die because of lack of access to water and sanitation between the ages of the zero and five, about 40 per cent statistics have shown are stunted.
“They are not growing as they should, they are underdeveloped physically and the reason for that is because of the repeated bouts of diarrhoea that they have to contend with.”
Ojo explained that for young children in poor and vulnerable communities, the little nutrition gained through food was lost through faeces and vomit, while suffering from water-borne diseases.
“These children are not developing sufficiently to utilise all the nutrients to grow.
“Even when we are feeding them well, the food that should be absorbed into their systems to help them grow is not absorbed.
“Rather, they are lost in the faeces when they have diarrhoea and when a child is not developing physically as supposed to, he is not also developing mentally.
“So, what we are doing with the lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene is that we are starting up a crisis for ourselves in the future.
“This is a crisis of human capital where we have a generation of people who are not able to fulfil their potential because of the experiences or the circumstances they face.”
WaterAid statistics reveal that about 100, 000 children under the age of five die of diarrhoea every year, 37 million Nigerians still practise open defecation.
Another 112 million Nigerians do not have access to improved sanitation.
Also, recurrent cases of cholera have been reported since 2010 in states like Lagos, Benue, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Benue, Nassarawa, Kano, Jigawa, Osun, Bauchi and Oyo.
Most of the diarrhoea and cholera cases are due to consumption of water that has been heavily contaminated.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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