Okowa flags off water analysis test to ensure healthy living

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has disclosed his administration’s commitment to provide sustainable water scheme for Deltans to ensure a healthy living for all.

Senator Okowa who stated this yesterday during the flag off ceremony of Testing and Data Analysis of Water sources organized by the Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with Emani Global Network Limited in Asaba said the analysis would help determine the status of the quality of water consumed by Deltans.

According to him it is a known fact that over 60% of Deltans depend on ground water (boreholes) whose quality may not be quite safe for domestic, industrial or agricultural uses, this is because many chemical components and disease causing organism are found in boreholes” he said, adding that “these harmful effects could result in diseases such as cancer, infertility among others.

“The state government cannot afford to ignore the obvious health implications of the consumption of unwholesome water by its people and the resultant bills our citizens spend on water borne diseases, hence the state wide water testing and analysis programme will help to determine the status of the quality of our water sources, particularly of boreholes which most of us now depend on” he said.

The governor said that the programme would assist in the reduction of incidents of water borne diseases stressing “Our water need to be regularly tested whether for domestic or industrial use and if found wanting , it will be treated to the required quality for drinking water, indeed water experts recommend that all water boreholes must be serviced at least once a year.”

In a welcome address, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Sir Fidelis Tilije explained that the programme was intended to wage war against water borne diseases in the state for a better health condition of Deltans

He said the analysis is to provide a comprehensive water policy in the state, stating that ” The governor directed that a Delta State Water and Sanitation Policy be put in place and the bill is before the State House of Assemly to be passed into law, all these is to ensure that we have good health in the state.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Emani Global Network Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Osiegbu, opined that the need to test the water we use was critical in order to help reduce the rate of water borne diseases among our people ” l believe that a healthy nation is a productive nation and Delta State is one of the state in this nation that has embarked on this policy