Lack Of Water Threatens MDGs, Maternal Health – Senate Committee

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Water Resources, Mr. Ewa Henshaw, has identified inadequate potable water in Nigeria as a major drawback  to all the programmes and policies of the government in realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015.

The lawmaker, who stated this shortly after inaugurating MDGs primary health centre in Ikot Edem-Edum, Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State also said “without sufficient water supply the major goals mapped out in the MDGs, including goals four, five, six and seven will be impossible to attain”.

He stated that the stated four MDG goals, which are aimed at reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases as well as environmental sustainability respectively, hinged on availability of potable water.

“Honestly, it will not be possible for us to realise MDGs by 2015.  Take it from the angle of water supply in our society.  There is problem of lack of potable water to drink to eliminate water borne diseases.  “When you don’t have enough water, all the health-related goals including maternal health, infant mortality and eradication of different diseases will be difficult to achieve”, he said.