- Kogi NDLEA arrests suspected Indian hemp dealers
- FG may review Lagos-Ibadan Expressway concession
- Soyinka, Agbeyegbe ask court to void 1999 Constitution
- PDP’ll win Bayelsa, Sokoto, C/River - Jonathan •15,000 security personnel for Bayelsa poll tomorrow
- Salami knows fate as NJC meets Feb 29
- Senate backs post-UTME
- Scrapping of TASUED is unfortunate - Adebanjo
- Committee on police reorganisation meets IGP •Set to flush out bad eggs
- I was bribed to nail Al-Mustapha, says Katako
- Borno Speaker impeached
- Boko Haram: Security beefed up in Lagos
- Husbands petition IGP over wives’ postings
- S/Court ruling: Gov Lamido, others relocate to Abuja
- Ekiti assembly scraps office of minority leader
- Akerele mourns Aluko, Mbu, Dantata •As ex-Ekiti commissioner mourns Aluko
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Many discerning Nigerians would be jolted, and understandably so, at the reported outbreak of this disease in a 21st Century Nigeria. A preventable disease that has no chance of survival under a regime of good personal and environmental hygiene as well as availability of portable water had caused 352 deaths within a space of one month, June to July, in a 50-year-old independent Nigeria. This is shameful, embarrassing and clearly shows failure of governance in the country.
THE outbreak had happened at a time when Nigerians are still smarting from the appalling evidence of bad governance and crass selfishness on the part of their leaders as epitomised by the controversial jumbo salaries and allowances the federal legislators allegedly awarded to themselves, are being served with yet another heart-rending news of cholera scourge in some parts of the country. In all honesty, the two seemingly different incidents are intricately linked. If substantial portion of the funds meant to provide basic amenities and cater for the welfare of the citizenry end up legally or illegally in the pockets of public officials, then there can be no potable water and facilities for hygienic disposal of wastes. And where these basic amenities are lacking, disease outbreaks will be regular features because of pollution of domestic water with human wastes. One may therefore ask: What kind of leadership are those at the helm of affairs at local government, state and even federal level from the areas being ravaged by cholera providing for their hapless citizens? One wonders what would be going through the minds of the Nigerians in the affected areas which do not have potable water but each of their federal legislators is being maintained with about $1.7million annually.
OFFICIALS of the Federal Ministry of Health have attributed the epidemic to heavy rains in most parts of the country leading to flooding in many communities. But were these situations not supposed to be anticipated and controlled in the interest of members of the public? Or what is the essence of government if human beings are suffering the effects of harsh weather just like any other creatures? What happens to the huge budgets made for ecological management? Even at that, flood on its own cannot cause outbreaks of cholera of the magnitude being reported without other enabling or enhancing factors. For instance, what percentage of the population in Nigerian communities has access to toilet facilities of any description? The implication is that a majority of Nigerians, especially in the rural communities do have access to plumbing. And in a country where close to 70 per cent of the population does not have access to safe drinking water, the citizens may end up, albeit, inadvertently, drinking flood water mixed with human faeces.
AGAIN, many rural dwellers draw their drinking water from brooks and uncovered wells that are prone to contamination. Thus the real issue may not necessarily be the heavy rains and flood experienced in many parts of the country this year but the failure of government at all levels to provide potable water and assist in the safe management of human waste. It is instructive to note that many parts of Lagos state are prone to flooding and also, by reason of its huge population it should ordinarily have serious waste management issues. But the state’s flood control mechanism and wastes management system are very effective. This is perhaps why no case of cholera outbreak has been reported in the state. The point being made here is that there is a strong correlation between good governance or lack of it, and the reported menace of cholera outbreaks in some parts of the country. This ought to be clear to everybody, especially the people in government.
AT 50, it is saddening and utterly embarrassing that Nigeria is reportedly at risk of a nationwide epidemic of a disease that could be effectively prevented in the ordinary course of delivering good governance even without special attention or focus on it. Jimmy Carter, the former president of the United States of America, had to intervene, in retirement, to help eradicate the spread of guineaworm in Nigeria. Also, Bill and Melinda Gates, the American billionaire and kindhearted couple, are in the forefront of the fight against polio disease in Nigeria. Should the country be looking forward to another foreign saviour to help rein in the menace of cholera in Nigeria? Against this backdrop, it should be understood why many Nigerians are unenthusiastic about wasting scarce resources to roll out drums in celebration of the country’s 50th independence anniversary. What is there to be celebrated anyway: the doubtful unity orchestrated for their selfish ends by corrupt leaders? Or is it the outbreak of cholera and absence of basic proceeds of good governance?
THE 36 states of the federation and their local government councils should avail themselves of the scary data and information obtained by the federal health authorities in the recent epidemiological survey of this disease and move quickly to institute programmes of action for prevention, control and treatment. Safe drinking water should be provided. Citizens should be sensitised and assisted to adopt safe and hygienic disposal and management of human waste in the rural areas. Primary and secondary heath officials at all levels should teach the principle and the use of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) in the treatment of cholera for which clean bottled water should be provided. The scourge must not be allowed to worsen. It is bad and shameful enough that almost a third of the country had been affected by cholera but it will be disastrous and unacceptable if the reported risk of a nationwide epidemic is allowed to crystallise.
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