FOLLOWING the recent Ebola disease outbreak in the Republic of Congo, WaterAid Nigeria has identified access to water, sanitation and hygiene as a cost-effective method for controlling the spread of the disease.
It warned that efforts to fight Ebola and other diseases threatening the nation and continent cannot be successfully sustained unless the worlds poorest are given the tools they need to fight the disease which are clean water, decent sanitation and good hygiene.
WaterAid Country Director, Dr ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye stated this in a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja.
According to her, this forms an important additional barrier to the spread of the disease.
Quoting from a report by the World Health Organisation(WHO), she explained that in Nigeria, 29 percent of hospitals and clinics in the country do not have access to clean water while the same percentage do not have safe toilets and 16 percent do not have hand wash facility
She said this puts patients and healthcare workers at unacceptable risk of infection, including some of the most vulnerable members of society new mothers and their newborns.
“About one in five deaths of newborn babies in the developing world are caused by infections with a strong link to dirty water, poor sanitation and unhygienic conditions; and Nigeria has one of the largest numbers of neonatal deaths worldwide.
“Out of all water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions, hygiene promotion, and particularly handwashing with soap, has been identified as the most cost-effective disease control intervention;
“Good hygiene, and in particular handwashing with soap, have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the global population. It was one of the ways in which Nigeria fought and won against the deadly Ebola virus in 2014. We cannot be lax in our attitude and neglect to consistently practice good hygiene. Ebola is back on the continent and it is frightening to think that we could all be at risk if we don’t take the necessary precautions and early enough.
“Other diseases such as monkeypox, cholera and Lassa fever are also continuing to threaten public health in the country; and these diseases can spread further and faster without sanitation and hygiene practices to block their path. An outbreak in one area can quickly become a city-wide, national or international epidemic.
“It is important that we promote consistent and long-term behaviour change throughout the year and as a crucial part of everyday life beyond just special global campaign days or when there is the threat of disease. WaterAid is committed to supporting the Government of Nigeria, at all levels, to improve access to these basic life-saving services and integrate water, sanitation and hygiene in education and health for improved and holistic outcomes in these areas.
“Nigeria is at the precipice of a sanitation and hygiene catastrophe. About 60 million people (33% of the population) are currently living without adequate access to water; over 120 million people (67%) do not have a decent toilet and about 47 million people (26%) practice open defecation.
“The reality is that countries that have been affected by Ebola have some of the worst water, sanitation and hygiene coverage in the world. The poor WASH situations in these countries have limited infection prevention and control and exacerbated the impact and reach of the Ebola outbreak.
“The benefits of water, sanitation and hygiene are clear and well understood; improved WASH has direct impacts on health. Getting to zero, staying there and ensuring Ebola preparedness for any future outbreak requires major investment in WASH. Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) relies on safe water, basic sanitation and good hygiene,” the statement reads.
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