Gbaupe residents assist in sinking a borehole in their community
A non-governmental non-profit charity organization, has finally put smiles on the faces of thousands of residents in an Abuja community who have never had a pipe borne water for decades. Residents of Gbaupe community situated along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and 10 minutes’ drive from the airport in Abuja, took over control of it’s first-ever water supply, ending decades of waiting for potable water.
The community of some 9,000 adults and children sprung up after hunters settled there nearly 100 years ago and has been largely cut off from the rise of Abuja, since the city was named Nigeria’s capital.
Efe Oluwatosin, president of Harrow Grace Foundation, a non-profit charity, said; “It is almost impossible to comprehend that these people dwell so close to the seat of power in Nigeria as they are so far removed from the trappings of wealth that surround them.
“What we saw is a town surrounded by beautiful landscape and hills, wonderful environment but ravaged by poverty, lack and disease,” she recalls of her first visit.
Harrow Grace estimated that most Gbaupe residents are not educated. “Some for five or six generations never went to school; they don’t speak English. Many as young as two are left alone to fend for themselves all day before their parents return from the farm. Children are literally abandoned, if you don’t step into their situation,”said Oluwatosin.
Residents have no toilets, their clinic is dilapidated, and six neighbouring communities share one school.
Harrow Grace is concerned that the absence of clean water has exposed residents, especially children, to unhygienic conditions, making water-borne diseases prevalent in the community.
In days before Gbaupe got its borehole, a 15-month-old child died from an unknown but suspected water-borne illness.
The head of the village, Danjuma Gejere, has welcomed the new borehole, saying it would substantially raise Gbaupe’s living standard.
The existing borehole in Gbaupe is in the home of the community head and water is for sale. “For someone who doesn’t have money to eat, where will he get money to buy water, and how much does he buy to cook, wash, for sanitary needs and all the general things you need water for?,” she noted.
Oluwatosin said her organisation was determined to help communities like Gbaupe alleviate their suffering and to prevent diseases associated with poverty.
In particular, it advocates to free women and children from economic, social and physical poverty. “To achieving this goal, we are vigorously engaged, amongst others, in the provision of food, shelter, medication, education, life training skills, mentoring, as well as health programmes to vulnerable women and children,” Oluwatosin said.
Credits: DailyPost
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