Lack Of Water Kills 1million Children

The United State Agency for International Development (USAID), has said that more than one million Nigerian children die of lack of water annually, while over 57 million have no access to potable water in the country.
USAID Mission Director, Stephen M. Haykin, disclosed this in Kaduna, yesterday, at the occasion of official launch of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
To this end, Haykin said the USAID was supporting the WASH programme with $2.5 million to enable Nigerians have access to potable drinking water.
According to him, “Having a clean water and sanitation is very essential for the development of a healthy society.
“Research has shown that, over 57 million of the Nigerian population don’t have access to potable water, and sadly, about one million Nigerian children die yearly for lack of potable drinking water,” he said.
Earlier, WASH Project Coordinator, Timeyin Uwejamomere, said the project was expected to last for two years, ending in November, 2018, adding that it will primarily target urban areas and focus on Bauchi and Kaduna states.
He said this was because the respective state governments have demonstrated firm commitment to improving the water sector.
He said, “This is why we established a country office in the city of Kaduna, and last month, a satellite office was opened in Bauchi.
“The programme will strengthen institutions as well as research and knowledge management to support urban water, sanitation and hygiene”.
In his speech to the occasion, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Malam Bashir Saidu, said when Zaria water work is completed, it will provide 150 million litres of water for the populace.
Also, the Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, regretted that the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into the state has increased the demand for water supply.
He, therefore, pledged the commitment and political will of his government to ensure the success of the project.