Observing menstrual interval has develop into a nightmare for ladies and ladies in rural communities in Ogun State resulting from lack of entry to scrub water and sanitary merchandise, exposing them to infections related to poor hygiene, SODIQ OJUROUNGBE experiences
Esther Ibukun strapped her two-year-old daughter on her again with a fabric wrapper, the acquainted weight a mixture of consolation and burden. Clad in a brightly colored native wrapper, she approached the one effectively in her group, a spot that had develop into each a way of survival and a supply of discomfort. The solar hung excessive within the sky, casting sharp shadows on the dusty floor, the place small stones crushed underfoot.
As she drew nearer, the faint sound of water splashing echoed from the effectively, mingling with the distant chatter of different ladies gathering round. However as Ibukun peered into the depths, her coronary heart sank. The water was muddy, with a brownish tint, and a robust, disagreeable scent rose from it. She hesitated, glancing at her daughter’s harmless face, then took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to return.
PUNCH Healthwise gathered that this soiled effectively was the one technique of getting water for the folks of Bamgbade, a group within the Obafemi Owode space of Ogun State.
“I’ve no selection,” she murmured below her breath to our correspondent. With practised ease, she lowered the bucket into the effectively, the creaking sound of the rope echoing her personal resignation. She watched because the water pooled within the backside, darkish and uninviting, and felt a well-recognized wave of helplessness wash over her.
Ibukun revealed that she was not simply fetching the water for consuming and cooking but in addition for the fragile hygiene rituals surrounding her menstrual interval.
Menstruation, a pure a part of life, had reworked right into a recurring nightmare for Ibukun and lots of females in her group. As a result of an absence of entry to scrub water and correct sanitary amenities, she and others needed to improvise throughout their menstrual interval.
Ibukun lamented that she had endured the ache and discomfort related to menstruation, typically dealing with the chance of recurring infections resulting from poor hygiene.
“Menstruation, which needs to be a pure a part of life, has develop into a nightmare for me and so many ladies in my group. We lack entry to scrub water and correct sanitary amenities, so we’re pressured to improvise with no matter we are able to discover.
“I’ve endured not simply the bodily ache and discomfort, but in addition the fixed fear about infections that come from poor hygiene. Each month seems like a battle, and it’s a battle that appears unending. It breaks my coronary heart to consider the ladies rising up on this setting, dealing with the identical challenges and disgrace. We deserve higher,” Ibukun confused.
Throughout a chat with PUNCH Healthwise, the reminiscences resurfaced like open wounds, as one other resident of Bamgbade, Sherifat Tejuosho narrated the continuing struggles confronted by ladies in her group.
“We used no matter we might discover, together with rags and previous garments, to scrub ourselves throughout our menstrual interval.
“Water is a luxurious right here and we might trek miles to different communities earlier than we are able to get clear water. And due to this stress, we’re left to both use the soiled water we are able to get from the soiled effectively in our group or discover different technique of caring for ourselves,” she defined in Yoruba.
Tejuosho described her physique as a battleground, continually ravaged by recurring infections brought on by the unhygienic practices she needed to endure throughout her menstrual interval.
She added, “I’ve needed to deal with so many infections, together with yeast, micro organism, and others. There have been occasions I couldn’t stroll or sit comfortably. The ache was insufferable.
“It’s both we go to a neighbouring group which is a 30 to 45-minute journey to get sachet water throughout our menstrual interval or we use the water we are able to get from our soiled effectively like that.”
Tejuosho, who broke down in tears throughout the dialog, lamented that her daughters and granddaughters have inherited this painful legacy.
“It breaks my coronary heart to see them undergo the identical struggles,” she stated, her voice stuffed with emotion.
“We nonetheless maintain on to hope. Though we now typically journey to a neighbouring group to purchase sachet water, it’s not at all times financially possible. Every time we are able to’t afford it, we’re left with no selection however to make use of the contaminated water.”
She shared the painful story of one in all her daughters, who felt compelled to go away the group along with her youngster because of the ongoing challenges.
“She informed me she couldn’t even go to for 2 days as a result of she couldn’t danger utilizing the contaminated water, after affected by varied infections since childhood,” Tejuosho recounted.
Like Ibukun and Tejuosho, many ladies in rural Nigeria face comparable challenges, the place inadequate entry to scrub water and poor sanitation make managing menstruation well being much more difficult.
Communities like Bamigbade, Tonawo, and Agbadu, situated in several elements of Ogun State, proceed to battle with an absence of entry to scrub water.
In these areas, women and girls had been reportedly pressured to depend on contaminated rivers and streams or journey for hours to discover a dependable water supply.
Findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that the dire water state of affairs in these communities has impacted the well being and well-being of ladies and ladies.
Throughout visits to those areas, our correspondent noticed that the accessible water sources had been typically contaminated, both coming from soiled streams or polluted wells.
In all of the communities visited, there was no clear water, and residents, particularly ladies, needed to depend upon soiled streams and rivers to handle their every day wants.
For residents of Bamgbade, their solely supply of water is a stagnant stream infested with dangerous micro organism and fungi.
The residents lamented that regardless of the group’s existence for greater than 40 years, they haven’t loved the luxurious of getting access to potable water.
In keeping with them, their survival has been hinged on the stagnant stream, which they nicknamed ‘Baba Inexperienced River’.
The stream sits idly below an enormous tree, surrounded by decaying vegetation. It wants no scientific proof to show that it’s a bequest of fungal and bacterial actions.
Girls in Bamgbade informed our correspondent that they both launched into an hour’s journey to a different village to get water, or they relied on the soiled, and stinking stream throughout the menstrual interval.
Murky, soiled water
It was an identical state of affairs at Tonawo. Residents of this group depend on a river that has develop into polluted.
The river, as soon as a supply of life, is now a supply of illness. Most of the villagers undergo from diarrhoea, abdomen cramps, and different diseases brought on by the polluted water. Infants and younger youngsters are probably the most weak, typically turning into severely unwell or dying from unsafe water.
The water within the river is a darkish, murky brown color, and it has a foul, rotten scent. Floating within the water are bits of rubbish, plastic, and animal waste.
It was noticed that the banks of the river are plagued by trash, and the riverbed is clogged with particles.
Our correspondent gathered that the once-crystal-clear water is now cloudy and filled with micro organism, making it unsafe to drink. The river is now not a supply of life, however a logo of loss of life and despair.
One other polluted river
The villagers of Agbadu can now not bathe within the river of their communities, they usually must spend hours every day strolling to the closest group with comparatively clear water.
The space between their communities and different neighbouring villages is greater than two hours, and this has left the villagers with no selection however to return to the polluted river for water.
The ladies are those who bear the brunt of the burden, having to hold the heavy buckets of water again to their houses. Their backs ache, their toes are sore, and their hopes are fading. They lengthy for the times when the river was clear and energetic.
Findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that these unsanitary situations expose ladies and ladies to a variety of waterborne illnesses, comparable to cholera and dysentery, resulting in frequent diseases that disrupt their every day lives and hinder instructional alternatives.
Throughout a go to to the Bamgbade group, situated only a kilometre from the bustling Lagos-Ibadan expressway, 15-year-old Bolu Adegbile was washing plates exterior her father’s home.
She shared her frustrations concerning the lack of fresh water within the space, which has made managing her menstrual interval significantly difficult for her and her friends.
Adegbile defined that many women typically miss college throughout their durations resulting from extreme ache and discomfort, whereas others battle with disagreeable odours.
She stated, “I’m a local of this place, and my dad is a herbalist. Each time I come right here, there isn’t a electrical energy, no community, and no clear water. Life right here could be very troublesome.”
Adegbile continued, “Every time I take advantage of the native water, it makes my pores and skin itch, and if I drink it, I find yourself with abdomen pains. We actually want the federal government’s assist.
“When my dad is financially okay, I take advantage of sachet water for hygiene throughout my menstrual interval however typically I don’t have a selection however to make use of the soiled water in the neighborhood. Shopping for clear water is a problem; I’ve to spend N600 on transport simply to purchase two sachets of ‘pure water’ for N50 every, however even that doesn’t really feel secure.”
Horrible tales
It was a heart-wrenching story for the ladies who spoke with our correspondent throughout the go to to Bamgbade and different rural communities. The ladies narrated how their lives have been negatively impacted by the shortage of entry to scrub water, particularly throughout their menstrual interval.
They lamented that the shortage of fresh water worsens the challenges they face, making an already troublesome time much more insufferable.
Identical to Adegbile, who spent N600 simply to get two sachets of ‘pure water’ to scrub herself up throughout menstruation, lots of the ladies stated they needed to compromise by discovering options to cut back the diseases they contracted throughout the interval.
39-year-old Maria Sunday, who lives in Agbadu, stated they use the soiled water in the neighborhood to drink, bathe, and do different home chores regardless of its soiled situation.
She added that the disagreeable odour from the water is simply one of many many challenges they face, because the effectively water is deemed undrinkable, forcing them to hunt options.
“We use this effectively to scrub ourselves, however the water smells. Every time it turns into too foul, we cease utilizing it altogether,” she defined.
Sunday recounted her private experiences with the effectively water, which have resulted in painful penalties.
“Every time I take advantage of the water from the effectively, I expertise severe itches that result in rashes. The discomfort is so extreme that it typically has a bodily impression.
“I simply can’t present you my buttocks. You will note what we name ‘Kurukuru’, referred to as rashes,” she defined.
She added that the impression of poor water high quality extends past adults, as youngsters in the neighborhood had been additionally affected.
She added, “If I might present you my abdomen, it’s lined in rashes. We would like the federal government to assist us present good and potable water, with markets for simple transportation. We attempt so much to get issues right here.”
Corroborating her, one other resident of Agbadu, Olusola Babatunde, stated the water causes itches and rashes for each younger and previous in the neighborhood.
“I’ve children and I gave beginning to them right here. All she stated is true; the water causes itches and rashes, and we are able to’t even drink it.
“We go very far to get water. I additionally go to the market to get a pad; that’s the one place to get it, and at any time when it will get exhausting, I take advantage of garments too.
“I’ve a grown youngster who has reached puberty. We’ve got a lot of them right here they usually do the precise factor we do too. We additionally get pads for them however when it finishes, in addition they use fabric. We taught them the way to do it correctly.
“The water causes malaria too. In truth, there’s a illness referred to as ‘okosho’, that comes out of our youngsters and we had been informed the water causes it. What the water has prompted is a lot they usually have to assist us discover options to it.”
Janet Monday, who additionally lives in Agbadu, stated the ladies used to place alum contained in the soiled water earlier than they might use it to scrub themselves up throughout menstruation.
She appealed to the federal government to supply the group with potable water in order to alleviate the struggling they’re going via.
She famous, “When a lady is menstruating, she is anticipated to not keep with out cleansing herself from morning until night time. So, for a girl like that who must go and first fetch the water and put alum in for a number of hours earlier than utilizing, it’s actually a irritating course of for us.
“I don’t give my youngsters the water to drink. I solely purchase ‘pure water’. That is making it insufferable for us to reside. We would like the federal government to supply water for us.”
Battling infections
Each month, when the ladies in these villages have their menstrual interval, PUNCH Healthwise gathered that they confronted a troublesome selection of both utilizing the soiled water to scrub themselves or going with out cleansing themselves in any respect.
Greater than ten of the ladies in several communities, who spoke with our correspondent, confirmed that utilizing soiled water typically causes them to develop rashes, infections, and different painful situations.
A 28-year-old resident of Agbadu, Pleasure Adetona, lamented that many ladies in her group have suffered from urinary tract infections and different illnesses straight linked to poor hygiene throughout their durations.
“Each month, I fear about infections. After I don’t have clear water, I can’t correctly wash myself or change my pads. It seems like I’m simply ready for one thing unhealthy to occur,” she stated.
Throughout our correspondent’s go to to a main well being centre, a number of kilometres from Bamgbade group, an area well being employee merely recognized as Fatima confirmed that many ladies from the group had been searching for remedy for infections.
She defined that the shortage of entry to scrub water contributes to those well being points, as poor hygiene throughout menstruation will increase the chance of infections.
“We see many ladies coming in with infections that might have been simply prevented with entry to scrub water,” she acknowledged.
Additionally, a group chief at Tonawo, Joseph Bamgbose, stated there are at all times experiences of irregularities within the menstrual cycles of ladies in the neighborhood because of the soiled water used throughout the interval.
He revealed that many ladies in the neighborhood have suffered infections and different life-threatening illnesses.
He added, “As a substitute of our wives seeing their menstruation frequently, typically they miss it; it fluctuates; there are such a lot of illnesses.
“So a lot of them (wives) ran away. Typically, after we go to the hospital, they’re at all times amazed at the kind of sickness we deliver. They even ask the place we reside. However we are able to’t depart our father’s land; that’s why we want the federal government’s intervention.”
Menstruation is a pure organic course of that’s typically recognised as a interval of change from adolescence to womanhood. Tens of millions of adolescent ladies worldwide are denied the proper to handle their menstrual interval in a dignified and wholesome method.
In keeping with the World Financial institution, as many as 500 million folks throughout the globe lack entry to primary menstrual merchandise and hygienic lavatory amenities to be used throughout their menstrual durations.
The World Financial institution famous that this lack of affordability and accessibility to menstrual merchandise, coupled with cultural stigma and different societal components, performs a big function in perpetuating the cycle of what’s referred to as “interval poverty.”
One other report by the United Nations Kids’s Fund recognized stigma, poverty, and lack of entry to primary providers like bathrooms and water as components inflicting menstrual well being issues and growing danger of infections for ladies and ladies.
Nigeria’s former minister of ladies’s affairs, Pauline Tallen, throughout the 2022 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, additionally claimed that over 37 million Nigerian adolescent women and girls of reproductive age, lack entry to menstrual hygiene merchandise resulting from excessive prices.
Tallen additionally stated this might have an effect on girl-child training within the nation, as many schoolgirls spend days at house during times, resulting from an absence of menstrual merchandise.
She additional famous that the excessive price of menstrual merchandise was disturbing, and referred to as for the affordability of sanitary pads in Nigeria.
The share of teenage ladies in rural Nigeria who completely use hygienic supplies comparable to sanitary napkins, locally-made napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups, to stop bloodstains throughout menstruation continues to be surprisingly low.
Poor menstrual hygiene practices are nonetheless on the rise in African international locations. Along with rashes, itching, foul odour, and lots of different reproductive well being morbidities, these poor menstrual hygiene practices result in reproductive tract infections.
A examine revealed within the “BMC Public Well being” journal discovered that girls who used contaminated water to scrub themselves throughout their durations had been extra prone to have urinary tract infections, cervical lesions, and sexually-transmitted infections.
The examine, which was carried out in Brazil, appeared on the well being penalties of utilizing unclean water throughout menstruation.
The examine concerned over 1,000 ladies, and it confirmed that these well being issues had been extra frequent amongst ladies who used contaminated water than amongst ladies who didn’t.
The analysis found that the ladies who used contaminated water had been 2.5 occasions extra prone to have a urinary tract an infection than the ladies who didn’t use contaminated water.
The researchers who carried out the examine imagine that the contaminated water might have contained micro organism that prompted these infections.
Barrier to Studying
An investigation by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that the shortage of entry to reasonably priced menstrual hygiene merchandise and clear water has resulted in numerous ladies in rural communities like Bamigbade, Tonawo, and Agbadu lacking college every month.
Throughout a dialog with our correspondent, Adegbile defined that with out correct provides, she is pressured to remain house, lacking priceless classes and falling behind in her research.
She acknowledged, “Every time my interval comes, I typically can’t go to high school. I really feel embarrassed and nervous about managing my menstrual hygiene.”
Identical to her, many women in a few of these rural communities face comparable struggles.
Additionally, 14-year-old Titi Bamgbose described how she typically has to decide on between staying house and dealing with the stigma related to menstruation.
“After I don’t have sufficient pads, I don’t go to high school. It’s not simply due to the ache, it’s the concern of what others will assume if I leak or scent.
“I hate lacking college, particularly when we’ve got exams or enjoyable actions, however there are occasions I don’t have a selection.”
Entry to scrub water, a distant dream
In keeping with knowledge launched by UNICEF, 2.2 billion folks nonetheless lack entry to soundly managed water providers, together with 1.5 billion with “primary providers,” 292 million with “restricted” water, 296 million who used unimproved sources, and 115 million who nonetheless collected consuming water straight from rivers, lakes, and different floor water sources.
UNICEF famous that the info reveal pronounced disparities, with the poorest and people dwelling in rural areas least seemingly to make use of a primary service. In most international locations, the burden of water assortment continues to fall, primarily on ladies and ladies.
The worldwide organisation found that 16 per cent of the inhabitants worldwide, which equates to 1.8 billion folks, collects water from sources situated off-premises.
Of these, 63 per cent of ladies are answerable for carrying water, in comparison with 26 per cent of males.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, 45 per cent of the inhabitants collects water, and girls are 4 occasions extra seemingly than males to be answerable for fetching water.
Equally, a 2022 report by the World Financial institution confirmed that roughly 70 million Nigerians had no entry to primary consuming water providers and 114 million had been with out primary sanitation amenities in 2021.
The report titled ‘World Water Safety and Sanitation Partnership’ confirmed that entry to piped water declined from 36 per cent in 1990 to 11 per cent in 2021.
The report learn partially, “In 2021, roughly 70 million Nigerians had no entry to primary consuming water providers, and 114 million had been with out primary sanitation amenities. Entry to piped water declined from 36 per cent in 1990 to 11 per cent in 2021. An estimated 19 per cent of Nigerians practised open defecation in 2020, and faecal sludge is often launched untreated into the setting.
“City water utilities largely fail to satisfy the wants of their already small buyer base, forcing a majority to depend on costly and sometimes unsafe options, comparable to personal water distributors and shallow personal wells.”
Unclean water, an agent of vaginal an infection —Professional
A public well being skilled, Dr. Ihegboro Minachiso, warned that the utilization of unclean water throughout menstruation is the quickest means of getting a vaginal an infection.
Minachiso famous that the mixture of grime from unclean water and menstrual blood which is a tradition medium for microorganisms is just not a wholesome follow.
In keeping with her, throughout menstruation, the girl’s physique opens to the within of the womb—the uterus—thereby, if an unclean substance is inside the space, it may permit upward migration of these substances to the interior half.
She added, “Unclean water merely means water that has been contaminated. Menstrual hygiene, in different phrases, are wholesome practices anticipated from ladies throughout their menstrual interval come as soon as a month. Menstruation is a standard and wholesome a part of life skilled by ladies of reproductive age—earlier than menopause.
“Menstrual circulate comes out within the type of blood. A few of the unhealthy practices embrace, however are usually not restricted to, the excessive possibilities of getting the bladder contaminated.
“The possibilities of having pelvic inflammatory illness will increase. Additionally, urinary tract infections can’t be excluded.”
Lack of entry to scrub water will increase ‘interval poverty’
The Programme Director of the Wellness Africa Basis, Omotola Akinmolayan, expressed concern that the non-availability in lots of the communities will proceed to extend the statistics of interval poverty.
Akinmolayan added that ladies who expertise menstrual poverty gained’t be capable to attend college as a result of they lack entry to the provides they require throughout their interval, together with water.
In keeping with her, such a woman might start to satisfy some guys simply to have the ability to get cash to have the ability to in all probability buy pads. Alongside the best way, a few of them contract sexually-transmitted infections, and we are able to see that interval poverty is growing the incidence of STDs each in Nigeria and globally.
She confused, “Interval poverty is when a lady or lady doesn’t have entry to interval merchandise like menstrual pads, different issues she will use throughout menstruation, or different primary facilities that she wants whereas menstruating.
“Interval poverty can have an effect on folks straight and not directly. We see it occur in several communities resulting from an absence of entry to water to scrub, clean up, or bathe when menstruating, and when this occurs, some folks don’t have any selection however to get soiled water to scrub up, which may expose their reproductive tracts to genital infections.
“This could have an effect on them even in the long run. Some will even go days with out having their baths throughout menstruation resulting from an absence of entry to water. And likewise, due to an absence of entry to a few of these facilities, some folks use leaves or rags when menstruating.”
The way in which ahead
Minachiso suggested females towards utilizing sanitary pads for longer than six hours to get rid of the chance of rashes and vaginal yeast infections.
She added, “Girls needs to be inspired to alter their sanitary put on after 4 to eight hours of utilization, no matter the amount of circulate.
“They need to additionally boil water if they don’t seem to be positive of the security of the water for use for cleansing. In addition they want to scrub their palms earlier than and after altering sanitary pads, towels, or tampons.
“Good menstrual well being and hygiene practices stop odour and an infection, and likewise show you how to keep snug throughout menstruation.”
On her half, Akinmolayan stated there’s a want for reorientation of ladies and ladies on the significance of caring for their private and environmental hygiene.
To guard ladies from an infection, she additionally urged well-meaning folks and organisations to assist folks dwelling in distant areas by offering them with potable water and different menstruation provides.
She stated, “We’ve got to make our women and girls know that it is necessary for them to handle themselves by way of private and environmental hygiene. By way of private hygiene, they want entry to all of this stuff.
“That’s the reason we’re saying that we want well-meaning people and organisations to know that there are folks in several communities, particularly under-served communities, that need assistance, and assist to have entry to secure water as a result of the federal government can not do it alone. We have to deal with this main disaster in our communities.”
Our efforts to supply water —Ogun govt.
The Ogun State authorities stated efforts are underway to deal with water challenges confronted by residents in rural communities throughout the state.
The programme supervisor of Ogun State Rural Water Provide Sanitation Company, Sola Okunbo, stated the federal government has continued to make use of accessible assets to supply water at strategic locations throughout the state.
Okunbo stated the Ogun State authorities, in partnership with the federal authorities, constructed solar-powered boreholes in 96 places inside 4 LGAs within the state.
He added that not lower than 80 water amenities had been constructed by the state authorities in one other LGA to match what the federal authorities has accomplished in that regard.
He additional stated, “We all know we can not do all of it. Our rural areas are very quite a few, as a result of yearly, we make finances provisions for interventions in these areas.
“In 2023 alone, we had finances provision made to these areas and earlier than the top of the 12 months, there will probably be intervention.
“Ogun State authorities additionally offered different counterpart tasks in one other LGA. Up until now, we hold getting requests for intervention from varied communities.
“Authorities is doing the whole lot to get rid of water-borne illnesses, and to additionally dissuade our rural dwellers from fetching water from streams and rivers to keep away from water-related illnesses.”
Different interventions by govt
Okunbo stated there had been steady sensitisation of individuals on the way to enhance their hygiene and likewise prepare them on the way to conduct easy family water remedy utilizing remedy kits.
He added, “We’ve got gotten the kits to rural dwellers via the assist of UNICEF.
“We’ve got additionally sensitised folks on the way to management cholera outbreak. Cholera comes via open defecation as effectively and that’s the reason we’re doing a marketing campaign towards open defecation.
“By the point we finish open defecation and water is obtainable, and persons are effectively knowledgeable, they’re improved their hygiene, they’ll know the proper factor to do.
“4 LGAs—together with Yewa North LGA and Ipokia LGA—are the place the intervention came about. In Yewa North, 14 rural communities obtained our interventions.
“In Ado-Odo/Ota, 18 completely different communities obtained the intervention. In Ijebu East LGA, intervention additionally came about.
“The native authorities authorities had been concerned, to let that we carried the grassroots authorities alongside throughout the collection of these communities and after. We’ve got communities we’ve got skilled on the native authorities stage.
“We additionally gave them the kits that they will use to keep up the amenities that they got, in order that we are able to have sustainability and upkeep of these amenities in Ikenne.
“As we communicate, the Ogun State authorities desires to key into one other programme referred to as the Sustainable City Water Provide Programme to make it possible for we bridge the hole in water provide. We thank God up to now that the protection is now round 45 per cent and we’re shifting to about 50 per cent. It’s a great way to measure that we’re growing. We will solely encourage the federal government to do extra.”
This report was facilitated by the Africa Centre for Growth Journalism (ACDJ) as a part of its 2024 Inequalities Reporting Fellowship supported by the MacArthur Basis via the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.