Cholera outbreak in Nigeria, more proof of underdevelopment
No underdeveloped country likes the appellation but adjectives are sometimes self-generated. Diseases ravage them, as well as, poor government accountability. Nigeria, for instance, has recently been under the heat of an ancient disease, Cholera. Cholera is caused by poor hygiene, occasioned by lack of social amenities, such as, potable drinking water, poor healthcare services, poverty, among others.
The disease is usually endemic in underdeveloped countries like Nigeria.
Mostly affected are people living in slums, ghettos and the likes.
For Nigeria to still be found under the above described bracket simply points to poor leadership.
Otherwise why would a country that ranks amongst the highest oil producers in the world be associated with slums and ghettos.
At sixty three Nigeria is still grappling with underdevelopment, to the extent that its citizens suffer from cholera.
As at the last count over twenty five states have been affected by the cholera outbreak, no thanks to the Nigerian government.
Why won’t they? After all, there is no potable drinking water, no adequate health care services, no food due to the high cost of living as against the pitiable per capita income of the citizens, among others.
These social amenities can only be provided by a responsible government, which to the best of our knowledge, Nigeria is lacking.
How do you reconcile a situation where citizens provide their own water, hospitals, roads, electric power and other infrastructures. And because the government is idle and does not know what to do it indulges in all manner of corruption, the result is that the citizens wallow in abject poverty to the extent of coming down with diseases like cholera.
When last have we heard of an epidemic like cholera breaking out in developed countries of the world? It is unthinkable! The reason is that these nations are where reasonable people lead and are qualified to be called leaders.
What do we have in Nigeria? Direct opposite, of course. Yet still the political class live like lords and are proud to be worshipped by the pauperised populace. Why won’t such society become a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and other disease causing agents?
It is unsurprising that Nigeria could fall victim to the cholera epidemic in this century, where several lives are lost and still counting.
As at the last count, about 90 percent of Nigerians are living under the poverty line,with abysmal per capita income. Why won’t there be a cholera epidemic?
Majority of the boreholes in the country today do not meet quality standards of such amenity and because government has failed in its responsibility of providing potable water,its health agencies saddled with the responsibility of regulating standards,which includes potable drinking water cannot carry out its oversight function of regulating private boreholes.
How do you regulate what you cannot produce? The result is catastrophe, resulting in unwholesome water being churned out for public consumption. We know of some boreholes being sunk close to soakaway pits and yet people drink from them.
It is common sense that when inflation becomes so high in a given society, people tend to cut corners in what they consume in regard to their purchasing power. It is also important to mention that illiteracy plays an important role in preventing diseases like cholera. How often have government organs charged with the responsibility of sensitising the people on healthy habits and hygiene done their jobs?
For God’s sake, cholera is preventable and curable. The suffering is pointless, self-made, government-induced. Even the smaller and poorer countries in Africa have since outgrown diseases like cholera. And Nigeria, touting to be a giant of Africa still suffers from teething problems.
Our government at all levels should sit up and do the needful as leaders. Citizens should equally discharge their civic responsibilities. There is no sense in dwelling in unhygienic habits,which end up endangering our lives.
If the government cannot provide public toilets, individuals or groups should come together and provide the same, bearing in mind that the consequences of open defecation come, government officials and families may not be affected. We are yet to see where epidemics like cholera ravaged the Government Reserved Areas (GRAs), where their officers and their families live.
No amount of window dressing can save us. The Kenyan example is recent. The Nigerian populace must rise from its slumber and demand of its government that which it needs.
