Flood: Bauchi govt, UNICEF commence mass chlorination of water sources

In a determined efforts to ensure safe drinking water for rural communities ravaged by serious flooding and avoid diseases associated with contamination of water sources, Bauchi State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have commenced mass chlorination of water sources in the affected communities.

Consequently, UNICEF is collaborating with Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, (BASPHCDB), State Emergency Management (SEMA) to launch the exercise.

The exercise involved the treatment of all water wells in the affected areas in a bid to prevent waterborne diseases.

The identified areas ravaged by the flooding are 17 communities in  Buskuri ward of Katagum Local Government Area which was visited by a team of Journalists, RUWASSA, SEMA and BASPHCDB for chlorination of water wells in the homes.

It is expected that the chlorination would destroy pathogenic microorganisms found in water as a result of the flooding.

Among the visiting team are hygiene promotion officials who visited house to house to educate women on hygiene promotion and Sanitation especially during periods like this.

UNICEF and its collaborators expressed  concern over the development especially when it affects women and children which are the most vulnerable that are easily  exposed to an unhygienic environment.

Some members of the communities acknowledge that since the occurrence of flood in the community has introduced different kinds of waterborne diseases experienced by women and children.

The communities also confirmed the death of a three years old child who died as a result of diarrhoea, the community members indicated that over 300 houses, with thousands of farmlands have been submerged by flood.

The Head of Buskuri Community, Alhaji Gambo Abubakar, in his response,  appreciated the government and partners for their support, saying that ” this gesture would never be forgotten”.