From Idu Jude, Abuja
A civil society organisation (CSO), Rite Place Health Initiative, has charged the Federal Government of Nigeria and other health stakeholders to prioritise the provision of clean drinking water. This measure, they argue, is crucial to curb waterborne diseases across the nation and prevent inherent illnesses, including cholera, diarrhoea, and others.
The President and Executive Director of the group, Dr Chukwuemezie Okolo, made the call during a press conference in Abuja on Friday. He strongly emphasised the low quality of drinking water and the poorly equipped primary health facilities across the country, which are unable to adequately address the menace.
Dr Chukwuemezie stated that the government’s failure to provide access to clean water is leading to several waterborne diseases, such as cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid, and other related health hazards being experienced in Nigeria.
He explained that Rite Place Health Initiative, as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and advocacy group, is on a mission to address these public health challenges in Nigeria. They aim to collaborate with both government and private establishments to ensure that the health hazard is overcome.
“Our vision is very clear. We have a dream where nobody suffers from waterborne diseases or neglected tropical diseases, and where primary healthcare functions optimally in a way that delivers its mandates to the people as it responds to their needs,” he said.
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“Our strategy is captured in our mission. We consider clean water a fundamental human right. We believe that asking for all of Africa to have access to clean, quality drinking water is not asking for too much. To advocate for primary health centres to have basic and quality facilities shouldn’t be seen as daring if we care about humanity.”
Dr Chukwuemezie called on both private and government establishments to join hands in ensuring that waterborne diseases are stamped out of the country in the 21st century. He also advised politicians and philanthropists to always budget for clean drinking water, stating that through such means they would have contributed their quota in championing the advocacy.
Consequently, Dr Chukwuemezie revealed that the organisation, driven by its numerous concerns, has lined up activities to launch and recruit community monitoring and advocacy volunteers. This initiative aims to ensure that endemic communities across the 774 local governments in Nigeria are connected with clean water and primary healthcare facilities with quality services.
He added that the conference will host the Minister of Environment, Minister of Health, and other industry stakeholders to kick-start clean water advocacy in Nigeria and Africa.
“You will agree with me that not even the sachet water people drink and the bottled water made in Nigeria can be trusted,” he said. “Recently, we all saw how Lagos and other states of the Federation were struck by cholera and other waterborne diseases that took the lives of thousands of people. That has got to show that we have a long way to go in providing clean drinking water and good, well-equipped primary healthcare. Also, I can tell you that no drop of water can be found at the Federal Secretariat, which houses many government ministries and agencies, and that is an anathema, a shame for a country. This is the Federal Capital Territory, which also shows that the menace can be worse in other states.”