Today, Thursday
March 22, the world over is marking the 2018 World Water Day. The international
World Water Day is held annually across the globe as a means of focusing
attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable
management of freshwater resources. This year’s theme is ‘Nature for Water.’
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.
Water, which is as old as the world, is
consumed as food by both animals and humans, 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 livestock, 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.
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.
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 and reliable 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 various Water Corporations are also expected to live up to the
expectations.
Similarly, there’s equally an urgent need to monitor borehole drilling
by residents in various quarters with a view to avoiding any future manmade
disaster such as earthquake or what have you. Improper sinking of borehole and
other related activities poses environmental threat to the affected dwellers.
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.
Most
importantly, in 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. To before warned is to before
armed. Think about it!
Comrade Fred Nwaozor
Executive
Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
__________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056Twitter: @mediambassador
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