By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Nigerians have accepted that they have roles to play in improving accountability in the water and health sectors in Nigeria, adding that poor water and health sectors are endemic for Nigerians to work on.
This was the outcome in the report of research by a human rights and advocacy organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) captioned ” Promoting Accountability and Addressing Corruption in the Water and Health Sectors in Nigeria”
The report was presented in Lagos by Mrs Bose Popoola, an Assistant Research Consultant.
According to the report, about 2,567 respondents from two States in each of the six geopolitical zones expressed their opinions in the random sampling of the opinion conducted by the researchers.
One rich and one poor States from the six geopolitical zones were picked for the research. In South West zone, Lagos State (rich) and Ekiti State (poor) were picked.
Opinions were gathered from various groups in the society, including the poor, rich, market women, youths, persons with disabilities, journalists, educated and non-educated and MDA’s.
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Popular opinions expressed showed that people are worried over poor water supply or non provision of water by the government at all levels and lack of health care facilities in both cities and rural areas despite the huge money budgeted for these services.
But it is more worrisome in the rural areas where these services are non existent. People resort to drinking untreated under- ground water tanks and boreholes.
In cities, water passes through contaminated pipes in gutters and drainage system.
On health facilities, it was noted that Nigeria’s health sector is nothing to write about. Some government hospitals and clinics are in very bad condition with dilapidated rooftops and ceiling. The wards are in bad shapes, stinking and without mosquito nets.
On free treatment, “there is nothing like free health services in government hospitals Patients are made to pay through their nose before they can be allowed to go. Most often, patients are made to deposit money for syringe, plaster, file and even biro to record their complaints.
In the interactive session that followed the report, participants stressed that it is the prima facie duty of the government to secure the lives of the people and take care of their welfare.
The participants queried the claim of the government that treatment is free.
However, the participants observed that Nigerians contribute to their problems in these sectors, such as blocking the drainage system, keeping dirty environment, unable to boil water for drinking and other health related issues.
SOLUTION
During the interactive session, some solutions were proffered. In order to maintain a healthy living, Nigerians must clear their environment, clean drainages.
Nigerians have roles to play in improving accountability in the water and health sectors by our own little action consciously and unconsciously.
- There should be citizen engagement. How much citizens take responsibility will go a long way to improve our living conditions.
- Convergence of voices by citizens: Speaking out together will attract the government to listen to their complaints and initiate positive action or discourage waste.
- Media Advocacy: The media of all kinds should be writing against government inefficiencies and inadequacies. Let the media focus their stories on these issues, beam searchlight to water and health sectors.
- Legislative Engagement: The legislature should checkmate/ monitor the activities/execution of projects by ministries, departments and agencies in carrying out government programs in the areas of health and water.
- Ministries, departments and agencies must work together for the services they provide.
” Adequate facilities for waste disposal should be provided in all nooks and crannies.
- We must ensure that people with disabilities are carried along and free services for water and health should actually be free.
The interactive session was organised by SERAP with the support of Luminate, aimed at bringing together heads of ministries, departments and agencies, anti-corruption agencies, journalists, legal practitioners, women groups, people living with disabilities and other stakeholders to discuss the findings and recommendations in the report, with a view for improving transparency and accountability in ministries, departments and agencies as well as access to public goods and services.
