"A slogan on Water is a slogan on life”.
It’s a saying that “Health is wealth” but I consider health to be “joy, an epitome of beauty”. Clean water and sanitation play major roles in health promotion and should be considered as prerequisite for attaining optimum health and living a life filled with joy, peace and harmony.
With the emergence of science and technology clean water and cleanliness of the environment has improved over time but not every society in Nigeria has the resource to acquire the technology necessary for providing their society with clean drinking water.
Having clean water and sanitation means being able to avoid exposure to countless diseases. Examples include: Cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Every year, millions of people die from diseases caused by inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.
Personally, I reside in Lagos state where some individuals cannot afford the proper and necessary tools to ensure that the water they drink is pure and suitable for use. Specifically; poor waste disposal by individuals, inadequate washing and cleaning of water supply units especially the tanks that store water have become a norm, blockage of drainage by individuals has led to the environment being unsafe and water being unclean.
Those who have resulted to drinking bottle water from companies, using water dispensers and pure water as they are no longer satisfied with drinking water stored in the tanks tend to bring about the excessive use of plastics which when not recycled contribute to the depletion of the eco-system. Personally, I have to boil and filter water to ensure its purity before drinking, this, solar radiation and the process of sedimentation are the traditional ways of purifying water and making it safe for use. Furthermore, not all individuals are disciplined enough to purify their water before drinking.
According to the world calendar, 22nd of March marks the “WORLD WATER DAY”, this was initiated to inspire people around the world to learn more about water-related issues and to take action to make a difference, utilizing the various means provided by the government to dispose refuse properly through rallies, mass campaign and health education programs. I believe that with the resources like water treatment plants and the proper attitude of individuals, the idea of clean water and sanitation can be achieved and sustained not only in Lagos State but also in other parts of the world in general.
