Water supplies in some rural communities around Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria: bacteriology of drinking waters.

Several communities in Nigeria exist without regular water supplies of good quality and quantity. Despite this situation, successive governments have tended to ignore the problem. The water supplies to two rural communities 7-8 km north of Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria, were examined bacteriologically using standard indicator bacteria (coliforms and streptococci). A contiguous community supplied with treated piped water was also studied in parallel. The rural water supplied was found to be bacteriologically unsatisfactory, having failed to meet the international standards for drinking water as set by the WHO. The geometric mean bacterial counts per 100 ml of serial samples from six sources ranged from 0.12 x 10(1) to 1.57 x 10(2) for fecal coliforms (E. col) and 0.05 x 10(1) to 7.5 x 10(1) for the fecal streptococci. Fecal streptococci were particularly recovered in large numbers from one source (Ayip Asikimangfuk) at concentrations of up to 3.0 x 10(2) per 100 ml at the onset of the rains. The water supplies from the community with piped water were, in general, bacteriologically satisfactory; fecal coliforms were found only in occasional samples (0.12 x 10(1)/100 ml).

Water supplies in some rural communities around Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria: impact on water-related diseases.

Two traditional surface water sources and one piped supply around Calabar, Nigeria were examined to reveal the community water use patterns and the impact on water-related diseases. Using questionnaires, it was shown that some communities trekked long distances (up to 5 km) to reach their supply source. The quantity of water collected per day in each of the five rural sources was inadequate (approximately 6 buckets or 90 liters). The traditional water sources were not available all year round, forcing users to trek longer distances for alternative supplies. Only 4.4% of rural water users subjected them to any further treatment, such as boiling or filtration. Fetching water was the occupation of children; they were the worst hit by water-related diseases, such as diarrhea/ dysentery, stomachache, worms and scabies/craw-craw. About 84% of the respondents were dissatisfied with their water supplies. Deaths due to apparent water-related diseases occurred among 6.3% of respondents during the twelve months preceding the study. The overall impact was a loss of school hours/days, loss of labor and general discouragement. The community served with piped treated water fared better in all respects.

The Kargasok tea: no scientific basis for claimed medicinal wonders

An unusual yeast; the Kargasok yeast; allegedly originating from the Soviet Union; was introduced unanimously into Nigeria in 1988. It was attributed with unlimited and eccentric medicinal values which attracted the curiousity of many and it became a popular beverage; gaining regular press coverage. Laboratory investigations showed that the active yeast resembles the genus Saccharomyces and the tea is basically an alcoholic beverage. Biochemical and phytochemical studies of the tea revealed its high acid; low protein and electrolyte contents. It also contained alkaloids; saponins and reducing compounds; properties inconsistent with the ascribed medicinal wonders. The public is therefore warned