Nigeria’s enduring health problems

Water is life, and clean water means health-—Audrey Hepburn, British actress & fashion icon, (1929 – 1993.)

IN 2025, the average life expectancy in Nigeria was about 54.8 to 56.4 years, and according to the UN, Nigeria’s life expectancy was ranked the lowest in the world. Africa is usually described by commentators as a continent plagued by poverty, disease, and death. While poverty is a multi dimensional issue caused in part, by Inept leadership, corruption, impunity, etc., the main focus of this piece is on preventable diseases and deaths.  The 2025 infant mortality in Nigeria was projected to be about 52.61 deaths per 1,000 live births. f this was the expectation in 2025, what do you think the mortality rate was, when you were born? We are indeed, a lucky bunch.  How many of you reading this article in the diaspora remember worms? They are sometimes excreted or vomited after taking de-worming medications. Now, since your migration to the Western world, how many times have you excreted worms? I’ll bet one “ball” that the answer is zero. What changed? What did you do differently to free yourself from warms? Again I’ll bet that you did absolutely nothing, but the worms are gone.  We will get to the answer later.

Have you ever wondered what the worms in your system, survived on? Glad you asked: Worms feed on host nutrients and blood. Here are some of the deleterious effects of worms in the system? Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, gas, loss of appetite. General system: Fatigue, weakness, unexplained weight loss, and anemia. Skin and other effects: Anal or vaginal itching. (Kuruno) Respiratory: Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Severe effects and complications. Organ damage and blockages: A mass of worms can block the intestines, bile ducts, or pancreatic ducts, requiring surgery. Cyst formation:* Certain tapeworm can form cysts in the skin, muscles, eyes, and brain, which can lead to vision loss, seizures, neurological problems, and even death. Hyperinfection :  Certain worms can cause life-threatening “hyperinfection” where the parasites multiply uncontrollably and invade multiple organs, leading to sepsis and pneumonia.  With the information above, we can now understand some of the reasons for the low life expectancy in Nigeria.

How do we solve this menace, and how has other societies solve this problem? The answer is water. Specifically, chlorinated water. The iconoclastic Fela Anikulapo Kuti was way ahead of his time when he belted the tune, “Water e no get enemy” or “Omi o lota” in the Yoruba vernacular.  This is what chlorinated water does for the body: Chlorinated water provides critical health benefits by disinfecting drinking water, killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites like E. coli, typhoid, and cholera.  Key benefits of chlorination includes  effective pathogen removal. It is a highly effective, and low-cost method for eliminating waterborne disease-causing microorganisms. Residual Protection: Unlike some other treatments, chlorine leaves a residual amount in the water, which ensures it remains safe to consume even after traveling through long distribution networks.

Safety and disease prevention: The use of chlorine has significantly reduced, and in many places eliminated, diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery, vastly improving public health. Improved water quality: It helps to oxidize iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, improving the taste and odor of the water. Infrastructure Maintenance: It prevents the growth of nuisance algae and bacteria in pipes, tanks, and water treatment systems. Versatility and low cost: It is easy to monitor, apply, and is generally more cost-effective for large-scale municipal water treatment than other methods. I’m positive that you’re wondering if chlorinated water has performed this magic in other societies? The answer is a resounding and unequivocal “YES.” In the late 19th century, the primary benefit of chlorinated water in Europe was the dramatic reduction in waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, saving countless lives and marking a pivotal moment in public health history.  The question is, can Nigeria implement this water purification process? The answer is yes. Does Nigeria have the resources to implement it, again the answer is yes.  Then the next question is, what’s preventing the Nigerian government from adopting such critical public health policy? The answer may lie in governmental priorities. This should not be a federal government responsibility. It should be the state government’s responsibility to provide safe drinking water to its citizens. The Federal Government can play a role by leveraging its statutory allocations to mandate the states to provide this life saving initiative.

Still on the issue of water

Have you ever wondered why middle aged Africans in general, and Nigerians in particular seems to loose their teeth, or have decayed teeth in their 50s or thereabouts? Most people accept tooth loss and/or tooth decay as part of the aging process. When some people in that age bracket, opens their mouth, the kaleidoscope of colors that emerge, is enough to force a double flip. But this reality is not due to negligence in cleaning their teeth, and it can easily be remediated. Although oral hygiene such as flossing and dental visits are rarely encouraged in Nigeria, there are cost effective, public health policies that can be adopted to prevent tooth loss and tooth decay. What are these policies, you may ask? Again, the answer is: water.  Specifically, floridated water.  Most if not all municipal water systems in the USA, have fluoride.  This is the reason most diasporans have strong and non-decaying teeth, even into their twilight years.  To be certain, most toothpaste contains fluoride, but not in enough quantity to prevent tooth loss and tooth decay.  It should also be noted that most bottle water do not contain flouride.

ALSO READ: Tinubu yet to redeem pledge on power stability — Peter Obi

The impotence of flouridated water: Fluoridated water is widely recognised by health organisations as a safe, effective, and cost-efficient public health measure primarily focused on preventing tooth decay and improving overall oral health. It is considered one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the USA.  We hope and pray that our governments will prioritize this affordable health measures for the benefits of the people.  This article is a politically agnostic call to action, with the hope of changing the life expectancy natives in Nigeria.

•Okhiria (M.P.A, M.A) writes in from the United States via [email protected]