Water Scarcity Threatens Maternal Health in FCT Communities
Nigeria faces significant challenges in guaranteeing the human right to water for its population.
A 2022 World Bank report reveals that 60 million Nigerians lacked access to basic drinking water, and in 2021, over 100 million lacked basic sanitation.
This deficiency leads to waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, causing millions of deaths annually, especially among children under five. women and girls are disproportionately affected, spending hours collecting water and facing risks, leaving them little or no time for education, work, or other activities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Maternal health is also severely impacted, with expectant and new mothers facing increased risks without clean water.
TAKUSHARA
In Abuja, the nation’s capital, some communities like Takushara some kilometers after Apo Mechanic Village located within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) suffer from severe water access issues. These areas, often considered unauthorized settlements, lack basic infrastructure. Residents rely on unsafe and unreliable sources like wells, boreholes, and streams.
Hussaina Muhammed, a new mother, described her experience as devastating after giving birth at home due to the lack of adequate water.
She said she chose not to give birth at the local Primary Health Care center because it was in the same deplorable condition.
“Because of the scarcity of water that is why we are digging a well in our compound, a truck of water is 1,000 which can barely be used for two days, with my new baby we need more water and clean water for our health,” Hussaina explained.
Her husband, Ibrahim Bala Sarkin Powa, who has lived in the area all his life, said when the baby arrived, there wasn’t enough water. He had to buy a truckload of water to meet their needs.
Ibrahim said the situation pushed him to dig a well in his compound, but unfortunately, he found no water.
He lamented that a truckload of water could cost as much as N1,500 when there was no electricity, and therefore appealed to the government to come to their aid and alleviate their suffering.
Zainab Adamu, a Community Health Extension Worker at the Primary Health Care in Takushra said most times residents get water from the well or stream which was a distance to their homes and challenging for those who deliver at home.
”We have to substitute sometimes to store water, we need water for cleanup sometimes to three depends on how a woman bleeds which makes us to need more water it’s really difficult,” she said.
Zainab explained that the hospital’s borehole requires a generator to operate, but the original solar-powered generator and its panel were stolen. They now have to borrow a generator and fuel it, which is challenging.
”The community chief occasionally lends his generator, but there are times when he needs it himself. The current hospital generator was borrowed from Apo resettlement,” she said.
Her colleague, volunteer staff Musa Monday, who said he was second in charge, recounted a devastating scenario from earlier this year when a woman was in labour, and there was no water in the hospital.
He said he had to rush to a nearby house to fetch water from a well while his colleagues watched over the woman.
He said he reported the situation to supervisors and appealed to visiting agencies, who promised assistance, but no help has arrived yet.
Musa also lamented that the water shortage in the hospital impacts their activities, as clean water was essential for maintaining healthy facilities.
WASSA
The situation was not any different at the WASSA settlements, within AMAC and 20 kilometers from the Apo Mechanic Village, which houses over 6,000 IDPs who fled the insurgency in the Northeast.
The state Emergency Management Agency had declared the camp unauthorized, resulting in a lack of basic amenities. Out of the five boreholes, only two are functional, forcing most residents to rely on a nearby stream, which they share with stray animals.
Salamatu Isa, a traditional birth attendant and salesperson at a herbal medicine shop, said she faces significant challenges as a nursing mother.
”The borehole is often non-functional for up to two weeks, forcing me to rely on a distant stream for water.
She emphasized that hygiene is critical, but the water shortage makes survival difficult, especially with children needing adequate water.
“We sometimes go the whole day without water. typhoid, and rashes are very common here,” she explained. “Women give birth at night, and with no electricity to power the borehole, we have no choice but to fetch water from the stream. It’s dangerous to go out at night, and we have to use that water for the mother and baby after delivery,” Salamatu said.
Salamatu Isa, a traditional birth attendant and salesperson at a herbal medicine shop, said she faces significant challenges as a nursing mother.
”The borehole is often non-functional for up to two weeks, forcing me to rely on a distant stream for water.
She emphasized that hygiene is critical, but the water shortage makes survival difficult, especially with children needing adequate water.
“We sometimes go the whole day without water. typhoid, and rashes are very common here,” she explained. “Women give birth at night, and with no electricity to power the borehole, we have no choice but to fetch water from the stream. It’s dangerous to go out at night, and we have to use that water for the mother and baby after delivery,” Salamatu said.
At Karshi, situated within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), approximately 38 km from the Federal city and 41 km from Apo, a pregnant woman Mrs. Rahab Chinedu shared her struggles with the lack of water in the community.
“Without water, one can live a very stressful life. We often have to leave our homes and travel far to fetch water, especially when we can’t afford to buy it,” she said. The well in the area typically dries up and only functions seasonally. Even when it does have water, it is not suitable for drinking and can only be used for bathing, washing clothes, and cleaning utensils,” she said.
Mrs. Chinedu maintained that the limited water supply was inadequate, especially for large families, and appealed to the government to come to their aid.
“The area is very hot, and pregnant women like me need clean water to sustain our health. I need to bathe three times a day, especially when the weather is harsh.
“This is my second pregnancy, and after I give birth, I will need even more water for myself and my baby.”
“When you don’t bathe these babies, they cry a lot and become restless. You can’t put the same clothes on them twice, but where is the water to wash them?” Mrs. Chinedu continued.
“We can’t even give them water from the well; they need clean water. When you visit the hospital, you see different cases like diarrhea,” she lamented.
The Youth Leader in Takushara, Rilwan Shehu, along with the assistant in charge of the Wassa IDP camp, Usman Ibrahim, admitted to reporting their situation and writing to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) for assistance.
They highlighted that several boreholes in their settlements were non-functional, and the existing ones were insufficient for their large population.
Radio Nigeria observed that only two boreholes were operational in each of the two areas.
Reacting to the situation, Mr. Abdulkareem Mustapha, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation of the Health Department at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), refuted claims that the affected communities had communicated their water challenges to the council. He stated that any reported problems were typically forwarded to the Chairman, who takes action accordingly.
“We have received no such reports,” Mr. Mustapha said. “I know there are numerous boreholes in the area, some installed by NGOs. However, I am not frequently there and am not very mobile. If there is a problem, the community representative or chief usually writes to the Chairman on official letterhead, stating issues such as lack of a borehole or non-functioning ones. The Honorable Chairman is very receptive to these concerns.”
When questioned about the communities’ entitlement to potable water, Mr. Mustapha explained that the FCT water board does not currently supply water to the entire AMAC.
He mentioned that Nyanya has been without water for six months, making boreholes and other alternative water sources essential for these areas. He also noted that providing water was the sole responsibility of the FCT authorities.
An investigation by Radio Nigeria at the Water Board reveals that the lack of facilities in the communities is the cause of their water supply issues, and it is unclear when such facilities will be provided.
However, in December 2023, Tauheed Amusan, a former General Manager of the FCT Water Board, announced the development of a five-year “Greater Abuja Water Plan.” This plan aims to provide adequate potable water to all residents of the nation’s capital, regardless of their location, distance, or terrain.
He explained that the Abuja Master Plan was originally designed to provide water for three million people through eight loops, but since the city’s inception, only two loops have been completed.
The National Coordinator of the Society for Water and Sanitation, Mr. Attah Benson, emphasized that “It was crucial for them to have not just clean water, but safe water.”
“The lack of safe water affects them in many ways. Pregnant women are in a delicate condition, and the risks extend beyond the mother and baby to the entire family. It can escalate challenges and result in diarrhea or other waterborne diseases. No analysis has been conducted on the water to identify the organisms present, making it unhealthy for maternity care,” Mr. Benson explained.
Water is a fundamental human right, essential for life, health, and dignity. To attain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, it is crucial for governments to ensure that water is accessible, available, and sanitation is provided for all.
Reporting by Hadiza Abdulrahman; editing by Annabel Nwachukwu “This investigation is for the GENDER, THE AGENDA project for Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI), supported by Wole Soyinka Center For Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), and the MacArthur Foundation”
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