HOW IS ABOUT 837.3 MILLION NGN (ABOUT $5.3million) BEING SPENT TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN IN BAGEGA, ZAMFARA, NIGERIA?
Help us follow the Money released January 2013 to Bagega!
[VISUALIZATION] 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RELEASE OF ABOUT 837.3 MILLION TO 3 FEDERAL MINISTRIES. SEE HOW THE FUNDS IS BEING SPENT TO #SaveBagega
Stories in the News
(TheStar.com) At long last,a reason to smile for the lead – poisoned children of Bagega
(Voice of America) Doctors begin treatment of lead – poisoned Nigeria children
(Human Rights Watch) In Nigeria: Death Stalking lead poisoned children
(Huffington Post) Deadly Delays for Nigerian Children
(France 24) Nigerian president urged to tackle lead poisoning
(Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria) The Story of the Zamfara Lead Poisoning Crisis
(News24Nigeria) Network urges FG to release fund on Zamfara lead poisoned
(Premium Times) President Jonathan’s inaction on lead poisoning causing death of hundreds of children
(Channel 4) Why Nigeria’s lead poisoning epidemic is set to get worse
(This Day) Saraki Flays Impact of Lead Poisoning on Zamfara Community
(Human Rights Watch) Ask Nigeria’s President What Happened to $4 Million:Social Media Campaign to Save Lives
(Compass Newspapers) Nigerian children are dying of lead poisoning
(Voice Of America News) Activists Use Facebook to Fight Nigeria Lead Poisoning
(Sahara Reporters) President Jonathan’s “Broken Promise” for Lead-Poisoned Children in Zamfara is Target of Social Media Campaign (Voice of America) In Nigeria, Time Running Out for Kids Poisoned by Lead.
(Vanguard Nigeria) Lead Poisoning: Concern grows over committee’s failure to deliver promises.
(Sahara Reporters) Human Rights Watch Releases Report On Child Lead Poisoning Crisis In The North.
(Human Rights Watch) A Heavy Price, Lead Poisoning and Gold Mining in Zamfara.
Blacksmith Institute Project Completion Report on Lead Poisoning in Zamfara.
(Doctors without borders)Lead poisoning conference concludes.
(ChannelsTV) Doctors without Borders call for funds to clean-up Zamfara lead poisoning.
(YNaija) Nigeria government ignores lead poisoning that killed 400 children in Zamfara
(All Africa News) More Children Risk Lead Poisoning in Zamfara
(Wikipedia) Zamfara State lead poisoning epidemic
(Daily Times)400 children die from lead poisoning in Zamfara
(Sahara Reporters)Death Toll from Zamfara State Lead Poisoning Escalates as Nigerian Government Remains Unperturbed
(Leadership Newspaper)More Children Risk Lead Poisoning In Zamfara
(All Africa News) Lead Poisoning Resurfaces in Zamfara
(Premium Times)Lead poisoning: Zamfara clean-up to cost $4million
(Doctors without Borders)Lead poisoning crisis in Zamfara state northern Nigeria
AFTER 2 YEARS OF WAITING: REMEDIATION OF BAGEGA COMES TO A CLOSE
On Friday, July 5, 2013 the remediation of Bagega, a lead poisoned community in Zamfara state ends. The clean up of about 450 compounds and a 4 heactares land area that started March 5, 2013 was carried out by the Ministry of Environment, while having Terragraphics Foundation as a Consultant. Likewise, about 981 children in Bagega have been screened since April 22, 2013
ALL THINGS BEEN EQUAL, REMEDIATION OF BAGEGA TO END JUNE, 2013
From March 5, 2013 – May 15, 2013, 420 compounds and 40 exteriors have been remediated with just 4% left.The industrial area (4 hectares of land having contamination of up to about 100,000ppm of lead) is only 30% completed.It is foreseen that in four weeks from May 15, if there are no bureaucracy, remediation should end in four weeks from now.
MSF NOW ATTENDS TO 60 PATIENTS(3x in a week) ON THE AVERAGE IN BAGEGA
Despite the Ministry of Health not showing concern about the development in Bagega, Doctors Without Borders now attend to about 60 patients in a day.80% of patients are children, and some have been put on chelation – therapy for lead poisoning.
MSF (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS) BEGINS TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN BAGEGA
BEFORE THE RAINS HALT REMEDIATION: EQUIPMENTS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE!
179 COMPOUNDS EXCAVATED SINCE PROPER REMEDIATION STARTED MARCH 5, 2013
Since March 5, 2013, 179 compounds in Bagega has been excavated out of 271 compounds that has been confirmed for remediation. 102 compounds remain unknown due to unavailability of characterization equipment. as seen on the project board for the remediation of Bagega as at April 7, 2013. Likewise the Bagega Industrial Area remain uncharacterized.
“WE FEAR BUREAUCRACY THAT MIGHT CAUSE DELAY ON REMEDIATION OF BAGEGA” – WORKERS
As there are 5 months only for the remediation of Bagega, including about 380 compounds, workers have said it will be pertinent for the FMOE to speed up the availability and purchase of all equipments needed, as time remains the biggest challenge.”About 4 more X-ray flourescence spectrophotometer should have been available by now to hasten testing and characterization of compounds” says one of the workers.
“WHERE IS THE STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH? THIS IS THE TIME TO ACT- STAKEHOLDERS
The stakeholders on lead poisoning, at their monthly meeting on February 12, 2013 called on the state ministry of health to start preliminary activities towards case management and other related health activities in Bagega. How the Ministry of Mines and Steel Devevelopment will encourage safer mining practices were also discussed.
2 WEEKS AFTER THE RELEASE OF FUNDS TO REMEDIATE BAGEGA >>> Remediation Starts!
The Federal Ministry of Environment (FMoE) last week in a meeting with Terragraphics signed a memorandum of agreement that abides with their work plan of about $2.7million. Terragraphics, FMoE, The Zamafara Ministry of Environment (ZMoE) and the Anka Emirate all agreed to working together in a team, and Remediation commenced on Monday, February 11, 2013
THE STORY OF #SaveBagega AND LEAD POISONING
In March 2010, one of the worst lead poisoning events in history was discovered in Zamfara state, Northern Nigeria. 400 children died and thousands were poisoned.
Over the past two years, seven villages have been cleaned up and thousands of children have been treated by international medical aid organisation, Doctors Without Borders. During this time, mortality rates have dropped in these villages from 43% to around 2%.
Unfortunately, one village was not remediated, due to lack of funding. For two long years, up to hundreds of children have been waiting for life-saving medical intervention in the village of Bagega. Medical treatment cannot take place until remediation (environmental cleanup) is completed.
The funds for this remediation were promised by the Government of Nigeria in May 2012, but after much pressure and campaign, about $3million were released by the President on January 28, 2013 from the Ecological Fund Office to the Ministry of Environment >> [More]
Accountability in spending
Previous funds provided by the Government for the remediation disappeared before they reached Bagega. This must not happen again. The people of Bagega village, as well as Nigerian tax payers deserve accountability in their public spending.
The Follow the Money campaign calls on all public agencies to uphold the public interest through accountable and transparent management of these funds. We invite the public to get involved in the Campaign today. Help us follow the money to Bagega!