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Children, Women, and Water Children, Women, and Water in the in the

Sahel region of AfricaSahel region of Africa

Solomon A IsiorhoSolomon A IsiorhoDept. of GeosciencesDept. of Geosciences

Indiana – Purdue University Ft. Wayne (IPFW)Indiana – Purdue University Ft. Wayne (IPFW)&&

Edna O Isiorho, RNEdna O Isiorho, RNAllen Superior CourtAllen Superior Court

Allen County Juvenile CenterAllen County Juvenile CenterFort Wayne, IndianaFort Wayne, Indiana

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IntroductionIntroductionLocationLocation

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Hydrologic CycleHydrologic Cycle

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Presentation outlinePresentation outline

IntroductionIntroduction Problem(s)Problem(s) Nature of Lake Chad Nature of Lake Chad Sources of water Sources of water DiseasesDiseases SolutionSolution ConclusionConclusion

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ProblemsProblems Global climatic changeGlobal climatic change

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ProblemsProblems Global climatic changeGlobal climatic change

Population growthPopulation growth

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ProblemsProblems Global climatic changeGlobal climatic change Population growthPopulation growth

IrrigationIrrigation

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ProblemsProblems Global climatic changeGlobal climatic change Population growthPopulation growth IrrigationIrrigation

EducationEducation

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ProblemsProblems Global climatic changeGlobal climatic change Population growthPopulation growth IrrigationIrrigation EducationEducation

One major source of water…LakeOne major source of water…Lake

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Nature of Lake ChadNature of Lake Chad

WatershedWatershed ProductivityProductivity SizeSize DepthDepth ShorelineShoreline

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Lake Chad BasinLake Chad Basin

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ProductivityProductivity Fish & OthersFish & Others

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Nature of Lake ChadNature of Lake ChadSize & depthSize & depth

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Shoreline Shoreline (Dec. 2002)(Dec. 2002)

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WaterWater ““Water is indispensable for life, not only for drinking Water is indispensable for life, not only for drinking

water, but also for raising crops for food. Fishing water, but also for raising crops for food. Fishing provides a major source of protein for much of the provides a major source of protein for much of the world's population. Throughout history, cities and world's population. Throughout history, cities and villages have grown up near sources of water, for villages have grown up near sources of water, for drinking, sustenance, and transportation. drinking, sustenance, and transportation.

… … Water-bourne diseases remain a significant Water-bourne diseases remain a significant source of mortality in many developing countries.”source of mortality in many developing countries.”

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Health Crisis Health Crisis

““Advances in health, sanitation, and nutrition have more than Advances in health, sanitation, and nutrition have more than doubled longevity worldwide. The major causes of death doubled longevity worldwide. The major causes of death throughout history -- smallpox, flu, cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, throughout history -- smallpox, flu, cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, plagues, and measles -- have been virtually eliminated as serious plagues, and measles -- have been virtually eliminated as serious threats in industrialized nations. Yet, influenza, HIV-AIDS, diarrhea threats in industrialized nations. Yet, influenza, HIV-AIDS, diarrhea diseases, tuberculosis, measles, and malaria remain primary diseases, tuberculosis, measles, and malaria remain primary killers in Africa and other developing regions. Many of these killers in Africa and other developing regions. Many of these diseases are related to poor environmental practices, including diseases are related to poor environmental practices, including land and water use. land and water use.

Water-bourne diseases are estimated to cause Water-bourne diseases are estimated to cause 5 million deaths a year, particularly affecting 5 million deaths a year, particularly affecting children and the elderly. Schistosomiasis is children and the elderly. Schistosomiasis is believed to have arisen in the last few decades believed to have arisen in the last few decades because of irrigation practices in hot climates.”because of irrigation practices in hot climates.” Environmental Literacy CouncilEnvironmental Literacy Council

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Health Crisis ContdHealth Crisis Contd

““Sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing a serious Sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing a serious health crisis. It is currently one of only two health crisis. It is currently one of only two regions in the world in which longevity is regions in the world in which longevity is declining (the other is Russia). One million declining (the other is Russia). One million people die of malaria each year; ninety percent people die of malaria each year; ninety percent of these deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. In of these deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, five percent of all children in this region fact, five percent of all children in this region die of malaria. Seventy percent of all cases of die of malaria. Seventy percent of all cases of HIV-AIDS occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.” HIV-AIDS occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Environmental Literacy CouncilEnvironmental Literacy Council

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WaterWater Who does the water fetching?Who does the water fetching?

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WaterWater Who does the water fetching?Who does the water fetching?

DistanceDistance Several kilometers (~5 miles…up to Several kilometers (~5 miles…up to

5hrs5hrs

Load/workLoad/work 50 lbs of water50 lbs of water

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WaterWater Who does the water fetching?Who does the water fetching? DistanceDistance

Several kilometers (~5 miles…up to 5hrsSeveral kilometers (~5 miles…up to 5hrs Load/workLoad/work

50 lbs of water50 lbs of water

Nature of waterNature of water SafetySafety

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Sources of WaterSources of Water

SurfaceSurface Rain …May to SeptemberRain …May to September Rivers…Chari/Lagone, ElBeidRivers…Chari/Lagone, ElBeid Lakes…Lake ChadLakes…Lake Chad Ponds…Ponds…

GroundwaterGroundwater ShallowShallow DeepDeep

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HydrographHydrograph

YearsYears Max. Levels Max. Levels Max. discharge Max. discharge Total AnnualTotal Annual

(cm)(cm) (cm (cm33/s)/s) 101099mm33

1983/841983/84 525525 19121912 16.5416.54 1984/851984/85 302302 779779 6.72 6.72 1985/861985/86 565565 21602160 16.8116.81 1986/871986/87 501501 17701770 15.1715.17 1987/881987/88 416416 13101310 9.56 9.56 1988/891988/89 756756 34603460 28.3428.34 1989/901989/90 489489 17001700 15.7515.75 1990/911990/91 411411 12901290 11.4811.48 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Flood peaks and flow volume of Chari River at N'Djamena (Irivboje, Flood peaks and flow volume of Chari River at N'Djamena (Irivboje,

1991)1991)

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HydrographHydrograph

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DiscussionsDiscussions

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Drought conditionDrought condition

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Drought conditionDrought condition

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Lake serves as political Lake serves as political boundaryboundary

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Conflict?Conflict?

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Wasting WaterWasting Water

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Water testingWater testing

3131

Education?Education?

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EducationEducation Management strategyManagement strategy

interpretation and dissemination of interpretation and dissemination of informationinformation

eliminate water wasting projectseliminate water wasting projects involve stakeholdersinvolve stakeholders conjunctive surface & ground water useconjunctive surface & ground water use

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ConclusionsConclusions

Water borne diseases still continue to Water borne diseases still continue to plaque developing nations with plaque developing nations with children and women bearing the children and women bearing the brunt of the procurement problembrunt of the procurement problem

Education and involvement of all Education and involvement of all stakeholders necessary to address stakeholders necessary to address the issues of children, women and the issues of children, women and water in the Sahel region of Africawater in the Sahel region of Africa