• Otuocha, Anambra community risks epidemic following poor hygiene, waste management
From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
Sitting on the banks of the Omambala River is Otuocha, a sub-urban community in Anambra East Local Government, Anambra State. The town parades beautiful stories.
It boasts irresistible hospitality and the special delicacy of popular Ofe Nsala Na Azu Ndu (white soup with fresh fish) and pounded yam. Their romantic dialect is also another notch.
The Omambala River makes sea foods very common there. Residents usually go fishing, and use their catch to make special meal of Ofe Nsala Azu Ndu for visitors as a special mark of welcome.
Life generally is simple and beautiful for the residents of the community. Yet, there are vestiges of war in the community. Though, Otuocha is fast healing the wounds and making her own history, remnants of burnt houses still litter the area.
Sandwiched by the two warring communities of Aguleri in the North and Umueri down South, Otuocha bubbles and shines in the ambience of nature.
Aside the vibrant commercial activities in the community, chiefly the Eke Otuocha which sits approximately on over 10,000 square metres, there are other significant features of the riverine area.
Notwithstanding, the beauty nature bestowed on the community, Daily Sun’s recent visit to the area exposed possible outbreak of epidemic there. Hygiene in the area was at its lowest ebb just like the perennial flooding following the overflow of the Omambala River could worsen the situation.
Eke Otuocha Market showcased a filthy environment that could trigger outbreak of diseases at any moment. Previous calamities arising from the overflow of River Omambala never hindered the people from their commercial activities.
One of the traders, Ngozi Obi, said they are no more bothered about flooding or whatever natural occurrences because they have lived in the community over the years and mastered their survival strategy.
Anytime the floods came, Obi said they used their canoes to go about their normal businesses. She, however, said though they usually had their other residential homes uplands, they were not in any way disturbed about the effect of flooding.
Daily Sun was informed that residents usually begin evacuation of their perishable property to safer uplands at the approach of rainy season.
However, government, private groups and individuals had initiated efforts to mitigate the effects of flooding in Otuocha. They usually sensitised residents and traders around Otuocha on the need to maintain environmentally friendly courtesies to forestall possible outbreak of diseases.
The Initiative for Agulu Development (IAD), recently launched an environmental-friendly programme towards reclaiming the water from various dangerous non-biodegradable objects. Its chairman, Chief Chike Aniukwu, said during the evacuation of plastics and other non-biodegradable objects from the Omambala River:
“Our concern is that these things take time to break down, when they do, they are consumed by the fishes. Anybody who eats the fish eats plastic indirectly. That’s our concern. It’s a health issue. IDA picked this as a demonstration project because we want to operate everywhere. We saw this as a very imminent problem.
“We came to also sensitive traders to reduce throwing non-biodegradable polymers inside the river and to tell them that after every market day, they should pack their plastic wastes including water sachets into bags so that recyclers will handle it.”
He warned of imminent flooding as a result of abuse of the river by residents and traders: “Flooding often occurs when the waterways are blocked through indiscriminate throwing of refuse and other objects into the river.
“The health implication of the abuse of the river goes beyond ordinary. When aquatic animals inside the river feed on the micro plastics thrown into the river, they are caught and are eaten by human beings. This has severe health implications.”
Coordinator, Anambra State Waste Recyclers Association, Pastor Ben Agape, said: “We are trying to do a very big work about environment. There is so much to rescue the environment from. In Anambra State, we have the problem of erosion and other environmental problems.
“But the specific thing we are here for is about plastic pollution. It has a lot of damaging effects on the environment and we are concerned about the environment because after environment, it’s going into our body. Whatever destroys the environment ends up in our system.
“Improper use and disposal of plastics clog up the waterways. That is one of the major causes of flooding; because it blocks the drainage system. When that happens, it accumulates and water must find its level. It begins to find its way into people’s homes and damage things.
“Some of these plastics get to our farms and it has a damaging effect on both plants and animals. It makes farming difficult and even animals eat it. Sometimes you see bush animals put their heads into some of these plastics and die off.
“Also, the water carries it through the drainages and pour them into the river, then it breaks down. We need to understand that these things need about 300 years to decay both inside water or on the surface.”
Mrs. Maria Nwadiogo, a fish seller said the market through its leadership would ensure that the indiscriminate throwing of waste into the river stopped. She urged that special marshals be inaugurated to enforce the order and ensure that anybody caught throwing any waste into the river was caught and sanctioned.
She, however, appealed to government to build retaining wall around the market.
Staff of Ministry of Environment and State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, were also on ground during the exercise. They pledged their continued support towards maintaining clean and liveable environment within Otuocha, its environs and the state in general.