Hand pumps provide new lease of life for Plateau rural dwellers

“The distance between the stream which is the only source of water supply for the dwellers of Ganawuri community in Riyon Local Government Area of Plateau state is about one hour to and fro, and the villagers, particularly the housewives and children must go there to fetch water at least three times every morning before […]

“The distance between the stream which is the only source of water supply for the dwellers of Ganawuri community in Riyon Local Government Area of Plateau state is about one hour to and fro, and the villagers, particularly the housewives and children must go there to fetch water at least three times every morning before they could get water to drink, bath and do necessary washing at home.” 

The Paramount ruler of the community, the Attah Ateng of Ganawuri District, Chief Yakubu Chaimang stated this while speaking on the plight  of his people comprising  300,000 dwellers in the 900 villages that make up the district. Chaimang told Daily Trust that when the two hand pumps provided by government in the 1980s broke down, the people of Ganawuri relied on the stream for water.

Chaimang lamented that getting water in Ganawuri was serious competition ,and that the water that they were getting has a bad odour and causes sickness. His words: “Majority of our people were diagnosed of waterborne diseases. Our clinics were very busy and doctors said we were getting the disease from the water obtained from the river. One particular day, the number of children in the clinic was more than the number of the children in the school.” 

Also, the Community leader of Tse ‘B’ community in Ganawuri district, Mr Nyam Mann also said that water remained the major source of worry in the community, and that people spent valuable time looking for water every day.  “We get water from the river and we know that the water is not clean, but we drink it because we have no option. Anyone that does not want to drink the river water would have to leave this village. And it is not possible for all of us to leave this place. Where do you think we will go? That is why we remain here,” he said. 

The situation in Ganawuri was not peculiar to the community. It is the same in most parts  of the country. The 2016/2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that 19 million people in the rural areas in Nigeria walk long distances to collect unsafe water from lakes, streams and rivers. According to 2006 National census, Plateau state has  a population of 3,207,543 and only 45 per cent of households in the state have access to safe water.

According to the MICS report, 90 percent of Nigerians drink contaminated water, while only 10 percent of the people in the country drink good water. The report also indicated that about 40 per cent of households and about 69 million people in Nigeria, do not have access to clean water sources. 

As the world International World Water Day was marked on 22nd of March to draw attention to the importance of water and advocating for the provision of clean and potable water, the Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) with The United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) Mr Zaid Jurji expressed worry that access to safe drinking water remains a challenge to majority of Nigerians, especially those living in the rural areas.

Jurji warned that children without access to safe water are more likely to die in infancy as a result of waterborne diseases. He noted that diarrhoea remains the leading cause of death among children under five years of age in Nigeria. He explained that lack of safe water and sanitation makes children vulnerable to other threats beyond health. 

His words “Improving water and sanitation services, as well as basic hygiene practices in Nigeria, calls for a strong commitment from all partners including the government, the civil society, the private sector and communities. For Nigeria to achieve the global goal of providing access to safe water for every citizen by 2030, it needs to make water, together with sanitation and hygiene, a national priority. This goal is closely linked with three key results for the country – good health, environment sustainability and economic prosperity,” He noted that UNICEF in collaboration with EU, the Federal, State and Local Governments has provided safe water during the past five years, to over 8 million Nigerians living in rural areas in Nigeria.

While speaking on the intervention of the European Union and UNICEF on the water problem in Nigeria, a WASH specialist Drissa Yeo said Ekiti, Plateau and Adamawa states were selected for a five year  water project. Ganawuri district was lucky as Riyon was selected alongside  Shendam Local Government in plateau to benefit from the water project. Drissa told Daily Trust that the objective of the project was to achieve water and sanitation related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the project states.

With the intervention of EU and UNICEF, the joy of the people of Ganawuri knows no bounds because of the new hand pumps provided for them in different locations in the community. One of the hand pumps located in the premises of Ekan Primary School makes it easy for the children and other dwellers of the village to get water easily. 

A resident of Bukuru in Jos who is also a communication analyst, Dr. Adedayo Ogundimu commended EU and UNICEF for the provision of the hand pumps for the rural dwellers in the state. He charged the beneficiaries of the water project to make good use of the facilities and guide them jealously. 

The elated District Head of Ganawuri said necessary mechanisms have been put in place to protect and maintain the hand pumps, and ensure sustainability. He also commended the EU and UNICEF for the gesture. He noted that since the hand pumps were provided for the people of Ganawuri, the cases of sickness have reduced drastically in the community, and that the women now have time to do other things, unlike in the past when going to the stream consumed huge chunk of their time.     

The Assistant Head teacher of Ekan Primary School, Mrs Shishang Hwok Sai told Daily Trust that children were coming to school on time since the hand pumps were provided in the community, and that during the break time, the pupils could get water to drink from the hand pump in the school, unlike before when they would go back home to drink water, and thereafter refuse to return to school. She added that this has affected the children positively and caused improvement in learning activities in the school.

The Deputy Director, Child Right Information Bureau in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr Olumide Osanyinpeju said the roles of UNICEF and EU in advancing the cause of making life safe in Nigeria ,remained very significant and commendable. “Without water, children simply cannot stay alive or thrive in a healthy environment. Water resources, and the range of services they provide, strengthen poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability,” he added.

The Plateau state Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Engineer David Wuyep said the efforts of the state government in collaboration with UNICEF has caused reduction of waterborne diseases in the state, and ensured better life for the people, especially the rural dwellers.