From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Health Experts have raised the alarm about possible outbreak of diarrhea, typhoid, dysentery and other water-borne diseases, as a result sudden rise in the patronage of unclean sources of water for consumption and other household use by Nigerians.
This was, perhaps, due to sudden sharp rise in the cost of potable water that are packaged in sachet, pet and dispenser bottles, among others, which majority of Nigerians rely on to quench their thirst. There are also indications that many Nigerians might have resorted to alternative sources of water as a result.
The Abuja chapter of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), last week, embarked on strike, and upon return from the strike hiked the price of the water by over 200 per cent citing the significant rise in inflation and cost of production.
Same last week, a video trended on social media where a particular woman was selling a water in a nylon bag that was obviously packaged in an unhealthy environment.
Former Chairman of Association Resident Doctors (ARD), FCT Chapter, Dr. Roland Aigbove, in his submission to the development raised alarm that there might be increased hospitalization as a result of the development.
He said: “Unarguably, Nigerians are resilient people, and no matter what lies ahead, they always create an avenue to get going. Due to the present precarious economic crisis that has bedeviled our country with so much uncertainty and class widening in terms of wealth and living standards, many people, especially the downtrodden have resorted to alternatives to meet their daily needs and hence, quality and safety will be thrown to the wind.
“The dangers of such practices will be sales and consumption of unwholesome products that would endanger the lives of citizens vis-a-vis their health. For instance, there are already reports of sales of water in polythene bags that are obviously packaged in an unhealthy environment, and without standards. This will, definitely, lead to increase in water-borne diseases and increased hospitalization, resulting in loss of valuable manpower/work hours due to the poor hygienic conditions of packaging and untreated water from any source.”
On his side, Dr. Ken Ozoilo, former President of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), described the situation as catastrophic, and pending public health challenge, considering the fact that water is central to issue of public health management in Nigeria and beyond.
The campaign for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) which was championed by UNICEF, local and international donor partners, and other State governments has been intensified for long with visible positive results being recorded.
“Fortunately, many Nigerians have picked and imbibe the message of hand washing for healthy living. But the situation in Nigeria today is scaring and could affect the gains achieved over the years. Undoubtedly, public health challenge is looming if something urgent is not done to salvage the situation.
“We are currently battling with the outbreak of Lassa fever as being reported from different states in Nigeria. Soon, it will be the turn of meningitis. So, there’s need to take precautionary measures to avoid additional public health issues that could overwhelm our system and manpower.
“Sadly, governments prefer reactionary measures/interventions which are more costly and often result in avoidable lost of lives, than proactive measures which are cheaper and affordable. But that should change if we want to achieve the desired gains.”
Halima Musa, a resident of Jikwoyi, Abuja, told Daily Sun, that a bag of sachet water in Jikwoyi (20 pieces) that cost N200 few weeks ago has risen to N500 and above. “Retail price for a sachet of water is now N50 up from N20.
“Similarly, a carton of pet bottle water (12 pieces) for the elites class, has also risen to N1,600 and above, depending on location of purchase. Virtually all basic food items are affected ”
Kosara Ibeh, a resident of Karu, in Abuja, confirmed that some her neighbours have resorted to drinking uncleaned water sourced from nearby borehole and well. “But I don’t blame them because the cost of water has gone up alongside other essential commodities.
“I bought a bag of sachet water on Friday at N550 through the help of God. But for a particular neighbour of mine who has four teenage children, in addition to his house girl, how many bags of water do you expect him to buy at that cost to be enough for the family for the few days? The weather is terribly hot hence more water is needed to keep the body hydrated.
“I only suggested to his wife to get WaterGuard, which is a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution used as a point-of-use treatment for household drinking water to purify the water to a certain level so the children, some of whom have weak immunity, don’t come down with water-borne diseases that would cost huge financial resources to treat.”
Kosara also confirmed that, in her neighborhood, some people have also resorted to drinking of unclean water sourced from well. “These are evidently unhealthy water for these families, but I have no solution to their problem because the cost of sachet they hitherto consume has gone beyond their reach.”
She challenged the government, particularly the local government, to intervene in the situation to avoid catastrophic public health challenge that might overwhelm the already overstretched public health care facilities in the FCT.