Today is BLOG ACTION DAY 2010. Its a day set aside for bloggers and others to write on the same issue on that day. This year its water and i am so happy because a lot is going on in Nigeria in terms of unsafe water for drinking or other usages.
I have decided to blog about children and the type of condition they are exposed to in Nigeria as it has to do with water.
Water is that clear, tasteless and odourless liquid which can be gotten from natural sources like springs, oceans, rivers etc. In fact water covers 70.9 percent of the earth's surface. Water is found under the earth and in the air like vapour and in the cloud. Water is everywhere by divine creation and arrangement according to Genesis 1 Verse 4. But most times access to good clean water is a challenge especially to third world country like Nigeria. Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang that water no get enemy meaning clean drinking water is essential to human and other lifeforms. Water is very vital to life and the living human or animals.
In other parts of the world especially Europe and America, access to clean drinkable and usable water has improved significantly but in Nigeria it is declining. Initially in Lagos, the government was making adequate provision for the supply of water to its citizenry in all nooks and cranny of the state. After some years, the pipes carrying water from reservoirs to homes got busted and are not repaired and some just got rusted and vandalised. Gradually and steadily access to drinkable and usable water in Lagos metropolis decline to the extent that 'Aboki' or 'Mallams'the water hawkers in Jerry cans became suppliers of waters to homes.It is sad but that is the reality.
Recently in the Northern part of Nigeria, there was cholera outbreak that claimed many life especially that of children. Th outbreak was the result of years of neglect by government and lack of basic amenities. Most of the affected communities are in terrible and unhygienic state. No modern infrastructure, No good accommodation, open drainage, no good drinking water and no good toilet facilities.
Simple hygiene are not being observed or practised in these communities. faeces liter everywhere since most of the houses don't make adequate provision for toilets. Because of economic down turn, shops for provisions and petty trading are constructed without conveniences for the people trading in that locality to use. When nature calls, these people just look around for black nylon and relieved themselves into it and just throw anywhere. This situation happens everywhere in Nigeria. Lagos is trying to be different by driving away the people and arresting street trading by planting trees and beautifying open spaces.
Last week residents of Owode-Onirin, Ajegunle and Mile 12 were sacked by flood. The whole area was overtaken by flood due to the release of water from the dam. The change in climatic condition saw rains being unleashed more than necessary and the water level in the dam getting high.
In that flood and dirt, children were seen playing and swimming in it. A mother was bathing her child in that dirty and animal infested water close to their house. Another child was seen scooping the water in her hand to wash her face because she was inside a boat. Others were fetching the dirty water in pails and going inside their homes. this was a situation of water everywhere but known to use.
Children are the most vulnerable and in unhygienic living conditions are always victims. Most children immune system are not as high as adults so any infection no matter how mild is fatal.
With the flood in Ikorodu, the so called borehole were filled with dirty water so the residents now resort to the use of sachet water for drinking. As for bathing, we are reliably informed that most fetch the water and keep it over night for the dirt to settle and then use the next morning for domestic use. So far skin diseases have taken over and cholera is being battled by the health workers in the locality.
While adult can take care of themselves immediately, can the children do same?
I pray a time will come in Nigeria when the people will have access to clean water for everyday use.
http://blogactionday.change.org/
Friday, October 15, 2010
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