Tales of Garin Galadima in Gombe where residents depend on hard dam for survival
Correspondent Chima Azubuike, narrates the ordeal of residents of Garin Galadima, in Pindiga, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe, who survive from water sourced from flood.
Water is a basic need with multiple uses for the sustenance of daily human activities. As important as water is there are still communities grappling with clean and hygienic water for consumption.
Surprisingly, Garin Galadima with other hamlets comprising of Unguwan Malam Audu, Unguwan Malam Gambo and Unguwan Abdu, with an estimated population of about 2,500 yearly depends on harvested rain water or what is also known as hard dam for survival for the past 40 years, despite closely situated around the recently inaugurated crude oil and gas deposits in Kolmani oil field.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that hard dam is an artificial drilling of the earth surface to collect water in this case flood as a result of rainfall.
Our Correspondent reports that the water lasts throughout the rainy period to the dry season and community members out of need for water either come to fetch or patronise those who make a living supplying homes, families in 25 litres containers.
At at December when our Correspondent arrived the hard dam, the water sourced from rainfall since September was still available for the community members to get free water.
Abdul Abdulrahman, is an indigene of Garin Galadima, he makes minimum of N3,000 weekly from his business, adding that he supplies per 25 litres at N150 with the aid of his motorcycle.
He said, “I sell water in Garin Galadima and a Jerry can goes for 150 naira. There is no specific number of people that i sell water to because water is always in high demand here. I make at least N3000 everyday for this business.
“I use bike to transport the water to sabon kaura, we use alum or sometimes we allow the water to go down before using it.”
Speaking about the dangers of using the stagnant water, Abdulrahaman noted that they have observed the negative effects of consuming the water adding that, “The water causes sickness but we don’t have choice because is the only source of water we have that is close by to these communities.”
He disclosed that animals are not allowed to drink from the water following it importance to the people, revealed that animals are fed by herders and not allowed to drink directly.
“Animals doesn’t drink from this water if at all someone will feed the animal with the water he will have to fetch it, use container and give it to the animals to drink,” he added.
More tales of drought
Ahmodu sarki, a resident of Sabon Kaura,told our Correspondent some have community have packed out to other places following the challenges of water.
Sarki said, “This water is gathered as a result of rainfall we call it harvested rain fall, after raining season it will dry up, it stays for two months after rainfall and we are drinking it and also we do some of our domestic activities with it, I fetch it for my family use.”
He revealed that the last rainfall is what the community is currently consuming, “The rain that fell was towards ending of October and it usually dries after before November or early November, but this time around it has stayed longer,” he added.
On your way to the Community from Pindiga, you will sight tanks of pipeborne water which supplies into the town and a private water business where those who don’t want to drink from open hard dam could source for water. For the government facilitated one it free, unlike the private borehole which comes with a price all located metres away from Garin Galadima.
Sarki noted that left for everyone they would get the pipe borne water but for the distance and amount involved.
He said, “There is a tap we fetch in Pindiga we buy a jerrican for 20 naira then we transport it down to sabon kaura for our own use, a 25 litre jerrican is 100 naira in sabon kaura meanwhile when it gets to garin galadima both the harvested rain water and the tap water is 150 naira per 25 litres jerrican.”
On her part, Nana from sabon kaura, who was seen fetching the water explained that the water was not for washing but served the entire purpose of water, she said “I use the water for drinking and also domestic purposes at home. I fetched it for personal use, I am not selling it.”
40-year-old, Audi Galadima, said he was born and brought up in Garin Galadima, explained how difficult it has been for a growing community to survive without clean water.
Galadima said, “I usually buy a jerrican of water 150 naira per 1 because I don’t have any means of transporting it.
“Tap water is been transported by car whereas harvested rain water is been transported by bike and is sold 150 naira for both.”
While urging government to expedite action in connecting the communities to its ongoing water project to ameliorate the sufferings of residents, Galadima added that it would solve a major chunk of their challenges.
“I am calling on gombe state government to please help us and provide a good source of water for water for us because is one of our major problem for now,” Galadima said.
A 63-year-old, Mohammadu Rabi’u, is the the chief Imam of Garin Galadima, he lamented the challenges of water.
According to him, access to potable water is about about 12km from where the residents are located.
“I am a dweller of this community. One of the biggest challenge we face in this community is water, we have no access to good water and even if we do it will take us 12km to access a good source of water, for the past 40 years we have been depending on harvested rain fall for survival.”
Rabi’u decried the failure of water tanker operators to provide them water following it high cost, “At first we buy water from tankers who come to the village because then our population is not as much as now and the resources are much but now we don’t have access to buy it. There is no money and the community keeps growing so we depend mostly on rain water that fall and gathered in a sloppy area for drinking and also domestic activities,” he said.
He noted that the poor road network has caused accidents, lamenting that the absence of medical facility has negative impact to victims survival.
Rabi’u added, “In the process of transporting water to my community often accident occur which leads to loss of lives and also injuries.
“Presently, the harvested rain water we took is affecting most of our villagers to the extent that some are currently been admitted in the hospital because the water is not good. However, we also have no choice but to drink it because not everyone is capable of buying a jerrican of tap water or transporting water from Pindiga to Garin Galadima. As it is now a jerrican of water is 150 naira per one and as a result most of our villagers are relocating to other communities that have water.”
While pleading for urgent provision of water the Chief Imam, called Governor Muhammadu Yahaya to come to their rescue.
“We drive 12km to get access to a good water and also if you don’t have any means of transportation one will have to buy it from those are selling both the harvested rainwater and the tap water from Pindiga is N150 per jerrican.
“I am calling and pleading on behalf of Garin Galadima community to Gombe State Government to come to our rescue though we have been making several attempt for the government to help us but we are yet to be noticed. We are law abiding citizens so we plead that the government should help us and make life easy for us by providing a good source of water for us to drink and also for our domestic activities,” he said.
Hard Dam, Stagnant water has huge risk to health – Expert
Speaking on the medical implications of using stagnant water Dr. Kefas Zawaya, Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe said hard dam allows other organisms to grow.
He said, “Some drainages from community toilets may also flood in and there will be bacteria, fungal effects that the community will be exposed to. The community members will be in and out with typhoid fever and different forms of diarrhoea they may be in and out with hepatitis A virus infection.”
While stressing the negative impact of such water, the former Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman added, “Stagnant water has alot of implications that is why when you get to a community it becomes a routine because people are falling Ill. As they continue to take they get infected, they go to the hospital and they are back to the same source. Don’t be surprised some of them will tell you that that my problem is typhoid as if they own it because of the frequent infection.”
Myth around Alum demystified
Aluminum Sulfate is used as flocculant to remove unwanted colour and turbidity in water.
Zawaya, clarified that the use of Alum is inadequate, disclosing that it only makes water transparent and not hygienic for consumption, “People think clean water is when it is transparent then it’s healthy. Alum is used just to settle particles in most cases but it doesn’t take care of the micro organisms. When they put it, then it settles impurities you are likely to get water that is transparent when you put it in glass they conclude the water is okay but it is not,” Zawaya added.
Gombe Govt reacts
Gombe State Commissioner for Water Resources Mijinyawa Yahaya, said the government is not oblivious of the community.
Yahaya revealed that the government has undertaken far-reaching development in reticulation of water across the state, adding that although in phases but in no distant time every nook and cranny would be reached.
Recall that recently the State Government recently flagged off over N11.4 b, booster water investment, where the state provided 70 per cent and the Federal Government provided 30 per cent.
The Commissioner said, “We are doing a lot to provide water everywhere within our less than four years. This administration is investing alot of resources to ensure adequate provision of water everywhere. We are not happy that people are relying on hard dam for survival. We are yet to commence the implementation of Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene Programme but very soon people will start seeing the direct benefits.”
