PRESS RELEASE
Time is running out to solve the Zamfara lead poisoning crisis
Médecins Sans Frontières calls on president to intervene to save Bagega
village
Abuja, Nigeria - Six months on from an International Lead Poisoning
Conference, Médecins sans Frontières warns that time is running out to
solve the Zamfara crisis. In a progress report, the medical humanitarian
organisation which has been treating lead poisoned children since the start
of the crisis, finds that very little action has been taken on any of the
agreed action points from the Conference.
Funds to tackle the Zamfara lead poisoning crisis – with a specific focus
on the remediation of Bagega village – were promised by the President in
May 2012, but have still not been released by the Secretary of the
Government of the Federation. Remediation is a process which removes lead
from the home environment. In the absence of remediation, children are
continually re-exposed to the toxins and medical treatment is useless.
“Bagega is reaching crisis point” said Michael White, Médecins Sans
Frontières’ acting head of mission in Nigeria. “More than two and a half
years after the lead poisoning disaster was first discovered, hundreds of
children are still awaiting critical medical treatment. Médecins Sans
Frontières is ready and willing to treat these children, but cannot do so
until their homes have been environmentally remediated. It’s time to get
the lead out of Bagega.”
Remediation was due to begin at the end of October 2012, directly after the
last rainy season. The window for remediation in Bagega is closing rapidly,
if the process is not started before the end of the year it will be too
late before the next rainy season. This could have disastrous consequences
for the community – if the funds are not released in November, Médecins
Sans Frontières’ chances of treating lead-poisoning victims in Bagega is
drastically reduced.
Médecins Sans Frontières has been treating victims of lead poisoning in
Zamfara since 2010. The medical humanitarian organisation maintains that a
successful resolution to the crisis must include a three-pronged approach
of professional remediation of affected villages, medical treatment to the
most vulnerable victims and the implementation of safer mining practices.
Médecins Sans Frontières has been collaborating closely with TerraGraphics,
an internationally-recognised remediation company that led the successful
remediation of seven villages in Zamfara state in 2010.
TerraGraphics, Médecins Sans Frontières and local stakeholders are all
ready to start work immediately upon the release of the funds. Both
organisations have been collaborating with Government agencies and
ministries to assure there is a system in place that is effective,
accountable, transparent and that will guarantee the best outcomes for the
communities of Bagega. This kind of collaboration ensures Nigerian
participation and ownership of both process and results while assuring
accountability and compliance with internationally recognised standards and
best practices.
Médecins Sans Frontières and TerraGraphics have done everything in their
power to address this crisis. In the end, the ultimate responsibility
rests with the people, and governments, of Nigeria. Only immediate action
by the Government can change the situation for the better.
Médecins sans Frontières is a medical humanitarian organisation that has
been providing emergency medical services throughout Nigeria since 1971.
Médecins Sans Frontières is not affiliated with any religion, government
agency or political party.
ends