Group decries Nigerian children’s lack of water, hygiene facilities

Over 90 people die of cholera in two months

An international organisation, Save the Children International (SCI), has lamented that about 70 per cent of Nigerian children lack access to water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) facilities.
   
The statement comes as local authorities disclosed that over 90 people have reportedly died of cholera in Nigeria and thousands more have been infected since May, with the north-eastern region worse hit.
   
In a statement by WASH Deputy Country Director, Jane Mutua, the organisation said the situation has led to an increase in children’s vulnerability to diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid.
   
Mutau stated that no fewer than 10 million school children lack basic sanitation in schools, while diarrhoeal diseases have continued to claim on an annual basis the lives of 70,000 children under five years. She added that 22 per cent of Nigeria’s population still practices open defecation, which has further heightened the risk of diseases and environmental contamination.
   
According to her, “millions of children in Nigeria wake up every day without clean water to drink, a safe toilet to use, or a place to wash their hands. She noted that “this stark reality underscores a critical challenge facing the country, where access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services remain far from universal, especially for children.
   
“Data reveal that about 70 per cent of Nigerian children, that is, about seven in 10 children in Nigeria, are still deprived of WASH facilities, limiting their ability to learn and thrive. This deprivation is not just an infrastructure gap; it is a daily struggle that affects children’s health, education and dignity.”
   
Mutau stated that “across communities, the consequences are severe. Children are frequently exposed to unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation conditions, increasing their vulnerability to diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid.
 
She noted that with Nigeria recently joining the rest of the continent to mark the Day of the African Child, the urgency of action under the theme, “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa,” has never been clearer.
   
According to her, “the theme calls for renewed commitment from governments, partners and communities to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to safe, reliable and sustainable WASH services.
   
Therefore, she called on stakeholders, including the government, development partners and donors, to take action in addressing the situation by increasing funding and accelerating implementation of national WASH strategies, among others, while communities must embrace improved hygiene practices and support efforts to end open defecation.
   
Meanwhile, a government report stated that Borno State recorded over 85 deaths and 8,457 cases between May 1 and June 7, with the state capital, Maiduguri, being the hardest hit due to high population density and overcrowded displacement camps.
   
In Plateau State, health officials confirmed on Tuesday that five people had died, while 11 confirmed cases and 53 suspected cases were reported.
   
In April, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention placed 10 states on high alert over the risk of cholera outbreaks linked to heavy rainfall and flooding, warning that the affected regions face an elevated risk of cholera.