Bauchi State And Cholera Epidemic

The causative link between cholera, gastroenteritis and consumption of unsafe drinking water and food contaminated by unhygienic water has been scientifically proved.

This explains why epidemiologists blame recent outbreak of cholera and gastroenteritis in the II northern states on poor access to safe and clean drinking water.

Statistics released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that more than 75 million Nigerians, about half of the country’s more than 150 million people, lack access to safe and clean drinking water.

This is in spite of huge investments in the water and sanitation sectors at various levels of government in the country.

Available records show that the water sector budgetary allocation between 1999 and 2007 alone was more than N357.86 billion for safe and clean drinking water.

Data also show that some 1.2 billion people lack safe water supply while 2.4 billion people live without secure sanitation worldwide.

Water Forum, a USAID-funded NGO, says one half of people living in developing countries, including Nigeria, are suffering from diseases caused either directly by infection through the consumption of contaminated water or food, or indirectly by disease-carrying organisms. According to medical experts, cholera is transmitted by contaminated water and food.

The disease causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration. Experts say cholera can be fatal, if not treated on time.

At the last count, the Federal Ministry of Health confirmed 352 deaths out of 6,497 suspected cholera cases recorded in some states.

The states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Y obe, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Jigawa, Cross Rivers.

Stakeholders, however, believe that tackling the epidemic is beyond clinical interventions. One of such stakeholders is the Water Aid Nigeria.

“Water Aid Nigeria recognises that tackling this crisis demands integrated approaches that go beyond clinical interventions.

“The World Health Organisation estimates that poor sanitation and unsafe water cause 28 per cent of child deaths, and safe sanitation and water are proven and cost-effective interventions.

“Safe sanitation and clean water could prevent nine out of 10 cases of diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation conditions and simply using a safe toilet can reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases by nearly 40 per cent,” says Mr Onyinyechi Okechukwu, Water Aid Communication and Campaign Officer in Nigeria,.

This, perhaps, underscores the decision by Bauchi State Government to embark on a house-to­house sanitation to properly educate the people on the imperative of keeping a clean and hygienic environment as part of efforts to halt the spread of pandemic.

Although medical experts have recommended the application of ORT as a remedial solution to the effect of cholera on human body, Dr. Musa Dambam, Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA), advises the affected to first visit health centres before applying oral rehydration solution.

ORT consists of a solution of salt and sugar and it is applied orally around the world, especiallyin developing world where it saves millions of children yearly.

Dambam, however, says creating awareness on ORT use may be abused. “We advise patients and their relations to rush to treatment centres first whenever they have the case.

“After they might have learnt the preventive measures, they could then apply the aRT. They can use it in transit before coming to hospital,” he says.

Dambam attests to the efficacy of the solution but advises people to use the ORT sachet as it contains additional ingredients which the conventional mixture of water, salt and sugar does not have.

The chairman says that following government’s aggressive efforts such as public enlightenment campaigns, chlorination of wells, disinfection of the surroundings as well as drugs supply, cases has reduced to the barest level in the state.

Dambam says the state government has also established more than 30 centres for the administration of ORT in Bauchi, as well as in the affected local government areas.

He says that all cholera patients at the designated area at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) are being treated and provided free feeding to avoid movement of people in and out of the designated area.

Dambam further states that government has embarked on house-to house chlorination of wells and disinfection of the surroundings in the state capital, while health educators are carrying out campaigns on sanitation.

According to him, the Federal Government has also assisted the state with technical and material support, while a group of doctors under the aegis of “Doctors without Borders” is on ground to support.

The state government says it has embarked on aggressive provision of clean drinking water to communities across the 20 LGAs.In collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BAURUWASSA), the government says it has so far raised access to clean drinking water from 2.7 million gallons in 2007 to 10 million gallons of water in Bauchi metropolis alone.

Mr. Bukata Bukar, the Commissioner for Water Resources, says the state government has purchased new generators and transformers to boost the capacity of the state’s water treatment plant in Bauchi metropolis.

In Azare, Misau, as well as in other towns and villages, the state government has also provided wells with hand pumps and motorised boreholes to boost water supply to the people.

Observers say that other communities, which have benefited from various water schemes in the state, include Bogoro, Kari and Gololo, which hitherto, had serious water supply challenges.

According to Bukar, about 205 solar-powered and motorised borehole projects have been completed and inaugurated, while 59 wells fitted with hand-pumps have been provided.

BAURUWASSA is the major government agency that has facilitated water supply across the state.

“Besides, water treatment chemicals are made available by the government and this has been very helpful in sustaining the current level of water supply,” he says.

Its Project Manager, Malam Garba Magaji, says that in three years, the agency executed 120 water projects in communities, schools and health facilities in Dass, Kirfi, Darazo, Giade, Zaki and Dambam local government areas.

He says that the improved water supply has also reduced the incidence of guinea worm disease in the state.

Observers note that the state government’s partnership with the Federal Government through the Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) of the Office the MDGs has facilitated the drilling of more than I 00 solar-powered boreholes and 200 hand-pumped wells across the state.

Hajiya Hajara Wanka, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on MDGs, says that about N4 billion has been spent in providing boreholes, using the 2007 and 2008 grants.

She says that most of the water projects were sited in the remotest parts of the state, pledging that the government will not relent in its efforts to attain a total coverage ofthe state in water supply programme.

“Despite these laudable efforts aimed at providing water to the people of the state, much needs to be done to ensure adequate provision of water,” she says.

However, Gov. Yuguda has raised the alarm that the aging Gubi Dam, the main source of water, is at the verge of collapse, and this may affect the water supply level.

Mrs Leritmwa John, a housewife residing in Yelwa community, calls on the state government to come to the aid of the residents with acute water problems.

State officials expect similar requests also come from Rafin Zurfi, Wuntin Dada, Gudum Sayawa and Gudum Hausawa communities.

A water expert, Dr Hassan Bdliya, says that the increased demand for water use has exerted pressure on the water agencies.

Bdliya, who is the Administrative Secretary of the Hadejia-Jamaare-Komadugu-Yobe River Basin Development Authority, however, stresses the need for effective management of the nation’s water resources.

Health analysts note that many diseases that afflict the people can be attributed to drinking unhygienic water and according to WHO and UNICEF; an estimated 1.8 million children under five worldwide die from water-related diseases every year.

They, therefore, call on relevant agencies and stakeholders to decisively address the water supply problems of the citizens, while Bauchi State should not relent in its efforts.

Adamu writes for NAN.

Sani Adamu