STATE OF WATER SUPPLY SOURCES AND SANITATION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS ON MUSLIMS IN IKARE – AKOKO TOWNSHIP

Access to sanitation and water supply is a fundamental need and a human right. It is vital for the life, health, and dignity of the people. According to World Health Organization (WHO and UNICEF 2005), the improved water supply and adequate sanitation will result in 25 to 33 per cent reduction in diarrhea diseases in the developing world, which accounts for 4 billion cases each year; decreased incidence of intestinal worm infestation which leads to malnutrition, anemia and retarded growth, and controlling blindness due to trachoma and schistosomiasis which are also water related. In Nigeria, population with access to improved water supply and sanitation still less than 50%. This varies from urban to rural communities and from cities to villages. Ikare – Akoko is one of the towns that suffered from improved water supply and sanitation. Ikare‐Akoko, a town located in the Yoruba cultural region in southwestern Nigeria. The town is the headquarters of Akoko North‐East Local Government and has a substantial Muslim population with several mosques and Muslim organizations. The architectural style of the city incorporates both Portuguese and Arabic styles. In Ikare ‐ Akoko, Southwest Nigeria, safe water supply only reach one in every six of the 116,000 (one hundred and sixteen thousands) inhabitants of the town comprising of about 70,000 (seventy thousands) Muslims. This study was carried out to establish the implications of unsafe water supply sources and poor sanitation on Muslims in Ikare – Akoko Township, Nigeria. A total of 220 questionnaires were administered, involving 20 respondents in eleven (11) mosques within the traditional communities. The study revealed that the main sources of water for domestic purposes using by the Muslims were unprotected wells and ponds. In the study area, about 68% Muslims still depends on open defecation while 20% and 2% depends on latrines and water closet system, respectively. Interestingly, the proportions of respondents that reported occurrence of malaria and diarrhea cases amongst Muslims in Ikare ‐ Akoko within the last one year were 63.2% and 37.5%, respectively. These findings show that availability of unsafe water and poor sanitary environment is a serious problem among muslims in Ikare ‐ Akoko and this may have serious consequences on public health.

کلیدواژه ها:

Water supply ، Sanitation ، Muslims and Ikare – Akoko Township