NAFDAC Initiates measure to sanitise package water

NAFDAC Initiates measure to sanitise package water

By Alex Uangbaoje

Bordered by the increasing rate of cancer, infant mortality and other water borne disease in the country, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) is putting in place measures to sanitize commercial packaged water in the country.

Consequently the agency has undertaken the process of testing all commercially packaged water in the country to make sure that there conform with the requisite standard for consumption.   

Addressing owners of water companies in Kaduna yesterday, Emmanuel Osiegbu, principal consultant to NAFDAC saddled with the responsibility of the exercise stated that the agency cannot categorically say the percentage contribution of water to cancer, infant mortality and other water diseases because of lack of data.

He however said, “But from what we are seeing in the water that we have been analyzing at least since we started this program, we have seen lead and others and this are things that causes cancer and if you relate that with the high rate of cancer in the country. We are not saying water is the only cause of cancer but it is part of the things we have to take control.

“In terms of infant mortality if you go to the Hospital everyday you will see issues where diarrhea, cholera and children are dying every day, so it is something that is related to water borne diseases and water. So the essence of this exercise is to exonerate the commercial packaged water, so that people will know that the water that we produce is safe for human consumption.”

On plans to tackle other sources of water, Osiegbu stated that, “The agency has its own jurisdiction, but this is one area that the DG is looking into, we are starting with registered and commercial packaged water so that we can build up a Data base and send the information to the National Assembly and say there is a problem let us look at it.

“Even with the water works we need the right equipment to conduct the analysis and that is what we want to see. However for example there is a place we found arsenic in the water and that is poison and the water is  from the water works. But what happens is that there is gutter where there is bridge between the pipe from the home and that from the water works and the gutter water is sipping into the water. So the water works water might be okay but the damage is causing problem.

“The way out however is now we are looking at the commercial packaged water, then we have to take cognizance of the community boreholes because those are areas where people drink raw water without purification process may be with time there is going to be something in place so that anywhere there is going to be borehole, a purification process will be put in place.”

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  1. February 7, 2024

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