PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Conference agrees on measures to end lead poisoning crisis in Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - An International Conference organized to find solutions to the lead poisoning that has killed 400 children in Nigeria's northern Zamfara state has endorsed an Action Plan calling on the Nigerian government to resolve the crisis.
According to a statement issued by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the lead organizer of the 9-10 May conference which was held in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, the Action Plan was agreed to set the path to achieving the three key pillars necessary to solve the Zamfara crisis – medical care; environmental remediation and safer mining.
Lead poisoning, which resulted from unsafe mining and ore processing in the affected village, has killed some 400 children and also affected 4,000 others. Out of the number, only 2,500 are receiving treatment while 1,500 have not been treated.
The statement, made available to PANA in Lagos Friday, said that for the Action Plan to succeed the Nigerian government, in particular the Ministries of Mines, Environment, and Health at both federal and state level, must commit significant resources and coordination.
''Most urgently, the promised funds of 850 million Naira (US$5.4 million) for environmental remediation and safer mining that have been languishing for months, while thousands of children continue to suffer from acute lead poisoning, must be released without further delay to the people of Zamfara.
''Release of the promised funds is a key priority of the Action Plan, as is the immediate remediation of the village of Bagega where an estimated 1,500 children have been suffering from lead poisoning since 2010, and continue to wait for their village to be made safe,'' it said
The statement quoted Ivan Gayton, MSF Country Representative in Nigeria, as saying: “There has been plenty of talk, but now is the time for action. He said MSF would consider the conference to be a success when all of the poisoned children are living in a safe environment and receiving treatment.
MSF was alerted to a high number of child fatalities in Zamfara in March 2010, and laboratory testing later confirmed lead poisoning, linked to artisanal gold mining in the area.
In June 2010, MSF opened specialised treatment centres to treat the sickest children, and has since provided specialized chelation therapy to over 2,500 children.
The conference was attended by many delegates, including Zamfara state government officials; the Emir of Anka, Nigerian government representatives as well as national and international aid workers, scientists, health, environmental and mining experts.
The delegates expressed disappointment that the decision-makers from the Nigerian government; the Ministers of Mines, Environment, and Health, were not present - and that no concrete action by the Nigerian federal government was announced.
-0- PANA SEG 11May2012
According to a statement issued by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the lead organizer of the 9-10 May conference which was held in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, the Action Plan was agreed to set the path to achieving the three key pillars necessary to solve the Zamfara crisis – medical care; environmental remediation and safer mining.
Lead poisoning, which resulted from unsafe mining and ore processing in the affected village, has killed some 400 children and also affected 4,000 others. Out of the number, only 2,500 are receiving treatment while 1,500 have not been treated.
The statement, made available to PANA in Lagos Friday, said that for the Action Plan to succeed the Nigerian government, in particular the Ministries of Mines, Environment, and Health at both federal and state level, must commit significant resources and coordination.
''Most urgently, the promised funds of 850 million Naira (US$5.4 million) for environmental remediation and safer mining that have been languishing for months, while thousands of children continue to suffer from acute lead poisoning, must be released without further delay to the people of Zamfara.
''Release of the promised funds is a key priority of the Action Plan, as is the immediate remediation of the village of Bagega where an estimated 1,500 children have been suffering from lead poisoning since 2010, and continue to wait for their village to be made safe,'' it said
The statement quoted Ivan Gayton, MSF Country Representative in Nigeria, as saying: “There has been plenty of talk, but now is the time for action. He said MSF would consider the conference to be a success when all of the poisoned children are living in a safe environment and receiving treatment.
MSF was alerted to a high number of child fatalities in Zamfara in March 2010, and laboratory testing later confirmed lead poisoning, linked to artisanal gold mining in the area.
In June 2010, MSF opened specialised treatment centres to treat the sickest children, and has since provided specialized chelation therapy to over 2,500 children.
The conference was attended by many delegates, including Zamfara state government officials; the Emir of Anka, Nigerian government representatives as well as national and international aid workers, scientists, health, environmental and mining experts.
The delegates expressed disappointment that the decision-makers from the Nigerian government; the Ministers of Mines, Environment, and Health, were not present - and that no concrete action by the Nigerian federal government was announced.
-0- PANA SEG 11May2012
