Only two percent access clean water, 21 percent defecate openly in Bauchi – WaterAid

WaterAid Nigeria has said that only 2 percent of the Bauchi State population could access “safely managed” water while 21 percent of the residents defecate openly which it said worsened the cholera outbreak in 2021.

The State Coordinator of Women Development Association for Self Sustainable (WODASS), Ezekiel Sukumun who spoke on behalf of WaterAid Nigeria on its programme, ‘Hygiene Behaviour Change’ said that “81 percent of the population lack access to basic hygiene and 74 percent of the population consume contaminated water.”

Ezekiel said that with good hygiene practices recommended as the first line of defence in the prevention of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, Bauchi State is currently performing below average in the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene services.

“The Water, Sanitation, Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping Survey 2021 (WASHNORMS 2021) shows that 81% of the people in Bauchi State lack access to basic hygiene services, while 21% still practice open defecation, an act which pollutes the environment and water bodies, contributing to the consumption of E. coli contaminated water by 74% of the population.

“Currently, only 2% of people in the state can access safely managed water. In schools, healthcare centres and public places, access to basic WASH services is equally very low, with 18%, 7% and 3% access rates respectively.

He said that the statistics were alarming and revealed that Bauchi State still has a long way to go to achieve sustainable development goal 6 – ensuring access to adequate and equitable water, sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030.

“In the meantime, millions of the state’s population, including women, children and people with disabilities, remain vulnerable to diseases such as COVID-19, as Nigeria continues to record infections and as newer variants of the virus emerge across the globe,” he said.

WaterAid urged the governments at all levels across the country to continue to promote and prioritise disease prevention through adequate and equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. To curtail the spread of COVID-19 as new variants continue to emerge, there must also be a focus on hygiene behaviour change interventions, complemented by a drive to boost uptake of vaccines, it said.

“Bauchi State government must take urgent action in implementing the key recommendations proposed to strengthen its water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery system.”