The provision ofboreholes inOkposhi-Umuoghara community in Ezza North Local Government Area of of Ebonyi State has helped to stamp out guinea worm infection, said the villagers.Some of the villagers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Okposhi that the disease had been controlled since the introduction of the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) in the state.CSDP is a community driven development strategy of government to enhance poverty reduction and growth in rural communities.The project is assisted by the World Bank and co-financed by the Federal Government and 27 participating states.NAN reports that CSDP released N6.4 million for the construction of 11 boreholes in the community, while the community contributed N715,000 as their counterpart funding for the project.The borehole project, which commenced in January, had been put to use since April.Mr Christian Mgbada, chairman of the local committee of the project, told NAN that the community is made up of 19 villages.He said that prior to the erection of the boreholes, the villagers used and drank from two guinea worm infested ponds for many years.``All the villagers drank from Okpuru Ohumbeze and Okpuru Inyima, dirty and unfit sources of water all these years until this opportunity came,'' he said.A NAN check also revealed that the ponds, which were kilometres away from each village, were dirty and unfit for use let alone drinking.Mgbada, who said water was their major need in the community, expressed satisfaction with the commitment of officials of CSDP in the state for erecting the 11 boreholes.Other villagers who shared the same view, said the water from the boreholes had restored their health, enhanced their businesses and improved farm yields.Some of the women, who echoed similar views, said the provision of water had enhanced their businesses and their children were now punctual to school.``My children now go early to school since they don't have to trek long distances to fetch water. Provision of the boreholes has also enhanced by business,'' Mrs Anthonia Nweze, a trader said.Mrs Esther Ogbonna, a mother of six, lauded the provision of the boreholes, saying it has helped to eradicate the menace of guinea worm in the area.``My children are neater, better cared for and healthier since these boreholes were dug and my last baby has been the healthiest of all my children because she never tasted water from the pond.``It is a wonderful experience, we have seen life in a different way, we never dreamed that we could get fresh water, but this has changed our lives for good,'' she said.Other villagers from Orobaji/Etiti village also attested to the benefits of the boreholes.Mr Charles Oru, an elder in Orobaji/Etiti, said they suffered during the dry season when the ponds dried up, but with the boreholes, the water flowed continuously.He said, ``The pond used to leave dusty substances in one's body after bathing, but since April when the boreholes were inaugurated, our skins are smoother.``We are very happy and enjoying the fresh water; it is a new lease of life because almost everyone who baths with the pond water was infected by guinea worm,'' he said.The villagers promised to protect the facilities from being vandalised and promised to manage and maintain them.They told NAN that two persons each from the 19 villages had been nominated for training on the management of the boreholes and had been provided with tool kits to maintain them.
Click here to read full news..
