In view of the outbreak of chol
era in some parts of the country, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Ambassador in Nigeria has urged women to create sanitation businesses to curb disease.
Mrs Ebele Okeke, WASH Ambassador and former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, made the call while reacting to the outbreak of cholera in parts of Lagos, Kano, Benue, Plateau and recently, the FCT.
In an interview with our correspondent recently in Abuja, she urged women to create businesses owning and managing low cost sanitary facilities.
These facilities, according to her, include low cost public toilets in communities and parks, water kiosks at bus stations and simple hand washing facilities.
Okeke said that the venture, if carefully and practically undertaken, would create wealth for the womenfolk as they are mostly affected by the effects of water-borne diseases.
“Sanitation is very vital to the health of Nigerians; facts show that proper sanitation like hand washing with soap, ash and clean water, reduces death in children and adults.
“In our market places, parks and schools, we don’t have toilets; women can be encouraged to take up this venture of sanitation facilities, manage them and charge money for them.
“There is a lot of business in this sector; people may ignore sanitary business but it is a need, a necessity.
“If one can engage in it, it will curb cholera and other diseases and also make money for women,” she said.
Okeke also reiterated the importance of effective hand washing.
“Normally, we think we have clean hands, but our hands are filled with dirt.
“If we wash our hands as often as possible, we discover that 50 per cent of the illnesses that everyone of us would have suffered from, would have already been eliminated.
“Diseases can be prevented if we make sure that proper sanitation is done by everyone because improved sanitation and available clean water will reduce many diseases we have.”
The ambassador also urged increased funding for the water and sanitation sector, to develop and maintain water infrastructure and ensure running taps across the country.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to serious dehydration and prove fatal, if not properly treated.
It is caused mainly by the practice of indiscriminate open defecation and poor sanitation which contaminates water sources and food.
NAN recalls that recent cases of cholera had claimed more than 100 lives in Benue and Kano States.
The 2013 cholera outbreak in Lagos in which 134 cases were reported, was said to have been caused by contaminated “African Salad” (abacha).
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, between September and October 2013, an estimated 2,771 cases and 124 deaths were reported.
Some of the states that witnessed the outbreak of the disease between 2013 and 2014 include Zamfara, Kano, Lagos, Benue, Plateau and recently the FCT.
Water and sanitation experts note that if facilities that cater to water and sanitation needs are readily available, the practice of open defecation will be reduced, thereby tackling the cholera disease.
They also say that drinking treated water, eating clean fruits, well prepared and well cooked food, can reduce the chances of contacting cholera.