By: Ishola Michael, Bauchi
Gital community in Tafawa-Balewa LGA has expressed fear that the breakdown of four boreholes in the village may trigger the outbreak of infectious diseases particularly, the dreaded Lassa fever unless urgent measures are taken by the government and other agencies concerned.
The traditional head of the community, Alhaji Umar Aliyu Gital, sounded the warning during the visit of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialists from the Women Development Initiative for Self-sustenance (WODASS).
While exchanging views with the team at his Palace in Gital, the traditional ruler noted that urgent rehabilitation of the four malfunctioned boreholes must be undertaken to avert the spread of Lassa Fever which has already affected some villages in his domain.
Alhaji Umar Aliyu Gital also requested RUWASA to come to the aid of the community by training a local Area Mechanic (LAM) who would be equipped with the knowledge of periodic maintenance of non-functional boreholes in the area.
He also said that that is the only way the Gital community would be protected from the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
He further informed the visiting WASH specialists that his subjects were conscious of basic hygiene practices at home and in public places but only required portable drinking water to remain healthy.
In his remarks, the leader of the WASH specialists, who is also the programme manager of WODASS, Mr Sukumun N. Ezekiel, expressed satisfaction with public awareness about the importance of hand washing. Critical times both at home and in the school environment in Gital Community.
Sukumun Ezekiel also said that the community Voices and feedback initiative funded by WaterAid was aimed at monitoring the compliance of the public with hygiene behaviour practices to curb the outbreak of water burner disease in Bauchi State.
In her remarks, a spokesperson of the Women group, Malama Hadiza Ibrahim, said that because of the high level of awareness on best hygiene practices, open defecation has stopped in most communities in the state.
She, however urged both Tafawa Balewa LGA and the state authorities to improve the water supply to Gital and its surrounding villages.
Similarly, the representative of people with special needs, Mustapha Abdullahi who is also a WASH Volunteer appealed to Tafawa Balewa Local Council to encourage and support households to construct improved toilets that would accommodate the needs of people with a disability even in public places.
