Nigeria and the MDGs: Tracking Progress in Drinking Water and Sanitation Target (original) (raw)

Water and sanitation is among the topmost emerging issues that have local, national and global importance. Water typifies the liquid state of matter and it is one of the most abundant natural resources of the earth; distinctively occupying 75% of the earth surface and 50-90% of the weight of living organisms. The main uses of water include application in various spiritual, domestic, commercial and industrial activities; transportation; agriculture; livelihood; recreation and tourism; energy generation; and fire fighting. Sanitation, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and faeces. It can also mean the maintenance of hygienic conditions, through services such as garbage collection and wastewater disposal. Globally a total of 2.6 billion people lack improved latrine while about 884 million people lack access to improved source of drinking water (WHO and UNICEF, 2010). The availability of safe drinking water and enhanced sanitation in addition to decent hygiene practices has significant effects on health, productivity, income and development. For instance as a result of inadequate sanitation, hygiene and water , an estimated 1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases; 200 million people are infected with schistosomiasis, while more than 1 billion people are suffering from intestinal helminthes infection (WHO, 2004). Also, almost 80 million years of "disability free" life is lost annually to unimproved household environments (UNDP/UNCHS/World Bank, 1997). Providing funds in order to meet the United Nation's target on water and sanitation is a huge challenge to municipalities. It was reported that developing countries require about US$ 42 billion and US$ 142 billion to meet the new coverage on water and sanitation respectively (WHO, 2008). Economic losses as a result of poor sanitation in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Peru, and Tanzania is more than US$10 billion per year representing 1.0-6.3% of each country's Gross Domestic Product (World Bank, 2013).