Television Nigerian

A Non-goverment Organisation, WASHMATA Initiative, Saturday, expressed worry over silence by Presidential Task Force on control of Coronavirus, COVID-19, on clean water supply and accessibility by Nigerians to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Expressing concern over lack of clean water to Nigerians despite rising number of infected persons with the virus, the Executive Director, WASHMATA Initiative, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, in a statement signed by her pointed out that there is need for urgent inclusion of the Minister for Water Resources, Commissioners for Water Resources and Heads of the Rural Water, Supply and Sanitation Agencies in the National and State Task Forces for COVID-19.

The statement reads in part, “Firstly, as a Public Health Expert with over a decade of work experience with the United Nations in various countries and capacities focused on ensuring water supply, sanitation and hygiene, I would like to commend the efforts of the Nigerian government through the Presidential Task Force on the control of COVID-19.

“However, the silence of the Presidential Task Force on the provision of adequate quantities of water for people to wash their hands with soap under running water for 20 seconds as is being recommended by the WHO and the NCDC for the effective control of COVID 19 is very worrisome.

“In a country where two-thirds of the populace lack clean drinking water, 94 per cent of the health facilities and almost all the overcrowded motor parks and markets (91%) lack water, sanitation and handwashing facilities; a plan to urgently and systematically provide WASH services, in the  COVID-19 National response is critical otherwise it may result in an exponential rise in coronavirus cases as is being seen in ‘superpowers’ USA and Italy.

“We entreat the task force and all citizens at large to understand that it will be extremely difficult for many Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable, living in overcrowded urban slums and rural areas, to adhere to the handwashing recommendation, thereby, rendering the Task Force’s laudable interventions ineffective.

“Prevention and Treatment need water!  Simply put “how can the citizens of Nigeria implement the preventive measure to wash hands with soap under running water for 20 seconds  if there is no running water”?”

The statement also added, “Furthermore, the isolation centers cannot function hygienically without adequate water, supply and sanitation thus unduly increasing the risk of infection of the extremely important medical personnel.

“The WHO Guidelines to countries on the effective use of this lockdown period includes the equipping of treatment centers with critical facilities.

“It is not just about infrastructure, there have been several instances of citizens insisting that there is no COVID-19 in the country or washing their mouths with sanitizer due to a lack of sensitisation.

“The WASH sector is trained in community mobilization and sensitization using water as an entry point into resistant communities, after all in the words of a famous musician everyone loves water; i.e ‘water no get enemy’.

“The relegation of the Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene sector to the distant background is alarming and indicates a gap in the global best practice of collaboration between WASH and Health which is required to prevent the coronavirus from spreading like wild-fire in Nigeria.

“A key indicator of the poor integration of WASH into the COVID-19 response plan is the absence of the Minister for Water Resources on the Presidential Task Force, though the Ministry is statutorily responsible for water, sanitation and hygiene services in the country; a major component of the global responses to COVID-19.”

The organization also warned that it will be disastrous if the issue of water is not urgently given attention.

“We must do all we can not to go down the route of the USA, Italy, and Spain; failing to implement preventive measures, their normally robust health systems are overwhelmed, and medical personnel is being infected.

“The present response can be strengthened by incorporating the WASH in emergencies partnership with the Health sector. We must join hands to prevent the spread”, it stressed.

Meanwhile, the organization also recommended that “Urgent inclusion of the Minister for Water Resources, Commissioners for Water Resources and Heads of the Rural Water, Supply and Sanitation Agencies in the National and State Task Forces for COVID-19

“Support the FMWR, SMWR, and RUWASSAs to trigger the WASH disaster response mechanism already in place for WASH-related emergencies such as COVID-19

“Collaborate with the FMWR, SMWR, and RUWASSAs to ensure that facilities at which COVID-19 cases are managed have adequate water supply, sanitation, and handwashing facilities.

“We commend the Federal Government of Nigeria on actions taken so far and entreat that in the interest of all Nigerians they will implement our recommendations.”

Determined to assist Delta State to stay free of coronavirus cases and enhance the government’s readiness to manage possible incidence of COVID-19, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria (FHN) and ND Western have donated critical medical equipment and materials to the state.

The essential medical supplies donated by the independent oil and gas companies included high power suction machines, infusion pumps, syringe drivers, personal protective equipment (PPE), and nebulizer omron.

Other vital medical materials that were delivered by SEPLAT, FHN and ND Western to the state government comprised temperature gun, hand sanitizers and examination gloves.

Receiving the items at new General Hospital, Asaba, the Delta State capital, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, commended the oil companies for coming together to support the state at this crucial time.

He said: “The governor of Delta State is very appreciative of this laudable gesture by these oil and gas companies. This donation is a clear proof that SEPLAT, FHN and ND Western, are credible and dependable partners of the government and people of this state and there is no doubt that the materials and equipment provided by them will boost our effort to put in place a robust response to the threat posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“Though we do not have any Coronavirus case in the state, as a responsible and proactive government, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is a medical doctor himself, has put in place several measures to keep the infection away from the state, including stay-at-home order, social distancing, shutdown of   schools, market and night clubs, ban of all social and religious gatherings, restriction of movement across the state borders, as well as designating and equipping facilities in Asaba, Warri and Oghara to increase our capacity to control and contain the outbreak.”

While assuring the companies that the equipment and materials donated would be distributed and utilized judiciously, he called on other oil and gas companies operating in the state to emulate the gesture of the three companies.

Even though  coronavirus disease is yet to be re-corded in the state, the Commissioner for Health noted that  government had continued to take precautionary measures to prevent the disease from entering the state.

He added that the state government has set up four well equipped state-of-the-art isolation and test centres in Asaba, Warri, and Ogharra in a bid to show seriousness and preparedness of the government in case of any eventuality.

Speaking at the event, the General Manager, External Affairs and Communications, Dr Chioma Nwachuku, who was represented by the Base Manager, Western Assets, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr Emmanuel Otokhine, said the company made the donation to support the state government in raising its level of preparedness and in proactively dealing with the challenges of preventing and managing a global pandemic like COVID-19.

“The NPDC/SEPLAT JV’s decision to support the government and people of Delta State is consisting with our wider corporate social responsibility strategy of consistently creating and distributing value to our stakeholders. We hope these essential medical supplies, particularly those that are in short supply at the moment because of the global upsurge in demand, will help to fill gaps that might otherwise have been left unfilled and go a long way to keep people that reside in Delta State safer.

“We recognise that only a collective effort can defeat the threat of COVID-19 pandemic and have, therefore, chosen to stand by the government to enhance its ability to manage the challenge thrown up by Coronavirus. The action of our company and our partners becomes even more significant when you consider the fact that, as a new health challenge, no government in the country can boast of enough essential medical supplies to deal with the threat. The items we have donated will come in handy for medical personnel and ordinary patient and people in the state”, Otokhine stated.

Speaking in the same vein, the representative of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, Blessyn Okpowo said the management of his company is deeply impressed with the commitment and proactive measures taken by the Delta State government to prevent Coronavirus from entering the state, adding that as a company with operational base in the state, it has become necessary to support and partner with the government in order to fight the scourge of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Similarly, the representative of ND Western and the General Manager, Community Affairs and Security, Sheidu Aiguedo, said the donations would complement the efforts of the state government in the fight against Coronavirus.

He said it’s obvious that the fight against this disease cannot be left in the hands of the government alone, hence the need to partner with the state.