ACKNOWLEDGING THE ROLE OF SAFE WATER IN NATION BUILDING AS THE 2016 WORLD WATER DAY IS COMMEMORATED TODAY, TUESDAY MARCH 22
Water is a clear, colourless and
transparent liquid that has no taste or smell, and that is required for the
survival of all plant and animal lives. In the same vein, a large amount or
area of either natural or manmade water such as lake, pond, pool, river, sea,
ocean, and so on, can be referred to as water or waters.
Like the human body, water which is usually addressed as a ‘Universal
liquid’, is made up of a skeleton of water molecules. The said molecules make
up the water we make use of. Not unlike any other chemical compound in
existence, a water molecule comprises one molecule of Hydrogen and one molecule
of Oxygen. Thus, water as a substance is made up of two major elements; namely,
hydrogen and oxygen.
Water, which is as old as the
world, is consumed as food by both animals and human beings, and it is also
required in various fields of endeavour or human activities including, farming,
cooking, manufacturing, sports, bath, hand washing, brushing of teeth, laundry,
sanitation cum other forms of domestic and environmental activities, just to
mention but a few.
The functions of water in the
body ranging from cell life, to chemical and metabolic reactions, transport of
nutrients, body temperature regulation, elimination of waste or toxic
substances, among others, are numerous and innumerable. Water is a carrier that
distributes essential nutrients such as minerals, vitamins and glucose, to
cells. Furthermore, it removes waste products including toxins rejected by the
cells through urines, sweats and faeces. It also participates in the
biochemical breakdown of whatever we consume.
Inter alia, water has a
large heat capacity which helps to limit changes in body temperature in a warm
or a cold environment. It allows the body to release heat when ambient
temperature is higher than body temperature. Most importantly, water is an
effective lubricant around joints; it also acts as a shock absorber for eyes,
brain, spinal cord, and even for the foetus through amniotic fluid.
Water is indeed at the centre of life. This
is why nobody can live more than three to five days without any water intake.
Suffice to say that, its role in the body is not just important, but
inevitable. It has succeeded in proving to mankind that it is the most
important form of food among the six classes of food in existence.
Considering the agricultural sector; the absence of water would simply
cripple the entire activity in the aforementioned area thereby terminating the
lives of crops or livestocks, as the case may be. Same is obtainable in the
manufacturing industry, like the pharmaceutical firms, bakery and breweries,
that requires water as one of the basic raw-materials for its day-to-day
activities.
The positive impact of water on
cooking and other household cum industrial works, is another factor that cannot
be taken for granted whenever the societal importance of water is discussed. It
is noteworthy that without water, most other forms of food or diet would not be
prepared or provided. On the other hand; swimming, which is one of the most
lucrative kinds of sporting activities in recent times, wouldn’t have been
founded if water is not obtainable.
Of course, the overall
importance of water in man’s daily thrive, was what prompted one of the popular
songs entitled ‘Water no get enemy’ sang by the late legendary Nigerian
musician, Fela Anikulapokuti. In reference to the said song, the late Afro-beat
artiste extensively told his fans that water is required in virtually everything
we do on earth.
As it is widely noted that the significance of water to mankind cannot
be overemphasized, it is also worthy to note that intake of dirty or impure
water remains one of the primary causes of several diseases or infections such
as, typhoid, diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, staphylococcus and other sexually
transmitted diseases, experienced across the globe.
Without mincing words, statistics show that over sixty percent (60%) of
death rate recently is attributed to consumption of unclean water as well as
residing in an unsafe environment. We shouldn’t forget that accommodating dirty
stagnant water such as gutter, pool et cetera, in our environments or
vicinities attracts mosquito which remains the sole cause of a killer disease
known as malaria. According to the United Nations (UN) findings; 768 million
people worldwide lack access to improved water sources while 2.5 billion
persons have no improved sanitation.
Today Tuesday March 22, the world
over is marking the 2016 World Water Day. The international World Water Day is
held annually across the globe on the 22nd of March as a means of
focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the
sustainable management of freshwater resources. Each year, the World Water Day
is targeted to highlight a specific aspect of freshwater.
The international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended on
December 22, 1992 during the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), which took place in Riode Janeiro, Brazil. The UN General
Assembly adopted the recommendation, therefore designated 22nd March
1993 as the first celebration of World Water Day.
As the global community commemorates the World Water Day, I call on all
stakeholders and the civil society to pledge to develop the policies needed to
ensure that sustainable water and energy are secured for the many and not just
the few as it is presently the case. In this regard, we should ensure that our
respective communities are provided with adequate and safe water sources.
On their part; the various ministries of Water Resources and their
Environment counterparts, ought to ensure that adequate boreholes are sunk in
every community that is related to them and also endeavour to sponsor series of
radio/television jingles to sensitize the populace on the unavoidable role of
clean water as well as safe environment.
The federal and states Water
Corporations are also expected to monitor this proposed measure. More so, they
should from time-to-time conscientize the public on the need to regularly
sanitize their gutters and other damps surrounding their places of
residence.
Among all, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC) ought to, from time to time, endeavour to checkmate the activities of
the various registered water companies. Also, it should not hesitate to
sanction or closedown any one that is set up illicitly or without its consent.
Also, on our individual capacities, we ought
to endeavour to properly boil any water we intend to drink, and also adequately
sanitize any stagnant pool of water within our surroundings as well as fumigate
the said environments when necessary, in order to guarantee purity and thorough
sanitary thereby boasting the safety and well-being of our bodies.
Thus, we are expected to continually note that the basic measure, which
is costless and reliable, required to ensure that pure or safe water is found
on our tables or surroundings at all times lies in our hands. Think about it!
Comr Fred Doc
Nwaozor
Twitter: @mediambassador
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