The Water Crisis

Nigeria generally faces a number of water problems, including a lack of access to clean water, poor sanitation, and water source pollution. The people of Ogboji are currently facing a number of water problems such that 90% of the population don't have access to safe drinking water close to home. This unfortunate situation put them under constant threat from waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid and other water borne diseases. The more our climate changes, the more challenging this becomes.

 

 The major sources of water supply are the streams. These streams are located in hilly and deserted areas, very far from where people live. Because of this, most children, and sometimes aged women, walk 20 miles every day to fetch water from the stream. Many of our streams have high levels of pesticides, bacteria, and other contaminants. These contaminants are discharged or wash into streams from land uses such as agriculture. The pollutants contaminate the stream water and pose severe health issues like Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) Headache, Diarrhea, Upper respiratory tract infection, Nausea, Constipation.

 

There is an urgent need for clean water in Ogboji. Safe drinking water will help prevent diseases like cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid, and polio, which are continually spread among the people because of contaminated water. It will also help people to improve the practice of hygiene, which can prevent diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, and other tropical diseases, as diarrheal diseases are a leading cause of death for children under five, but can be prevented with clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutritious food.