The Coordinator of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – Gender Project Team, Prof. Emmanuel Akpabio, on Friday, disclosed that menstruating women and mothers of twin children were not allowed access to drinking water at a community in Akwa Ibom State over beliefs that the water would dry up.

Akpabio, who is the Director, Directorate of International Programmes, University of Uyo, stated this in Uyo while briefing newsmen to highlight the report of the team’s research in three local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, the community in the Mbiabet Ikot Udo in Ini Local Government Area of the state has been upholding this belief for decades without being confronted. This is a result of a lack of drinking water and worries that the only source of water in the region might be poisoned.

The professor who noted that the lack of access to WASH constrains women, girls, and other vulnerable individuals from engaging in economic and educational activities called for strong public intervention in providing water for such communities, adding that it would also tackle the problem of open defecation.

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“For Mbiabet Ikot Udo, there is only a single source of drinking but stagnant water (idim Affia) sustained through under surface outflow with brown coloration. This serves an estimated population of 1,200 and six more villages (over 6000 people) in the dry season when other available sources would have dried up. This water source is also obtained for domestic and other needs.

“Mothers of twin children are restricted from accessing this water. We were told the stream will spew all manner of impurities and strange substances and gradually dry up anytime it is accessed by a mother of twins, and only comes back to normalcy once sacrifices/rituals are performed by the community.

“Women in their menstrual cycles are also traditionally restricted from having access to the stream and the consequence for violation is prolonged blood discharge. The victims can only get water through their spouses, children, paid services, or voluntary support from members of the community. Where they cannot get any support, they will stay without water for that period,” Akpabio said.

He disclosed that the practice has fuelled gender-based discrimination in access to WASH services and subjected women to psychosocial and other forms of gender-based violence, which would in turn affect their health.

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According to him, the discrimination was pronounced in ecologically fragile and difficult areas where WASH infrastructure for public use are severely limited, adding that intersectional factors like biology, disability, socio-cultural norms, and economic circumstances also complicate the problem.

“Our attention was drawn to the challenges of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in the study communities. There have been so much misconception, myths, and gaps in knowledge and awareness around MHM for women and girls.

“When women and girls are denied access to water on account of menstruation, when they have to walk long distances to access WaSH facilities, or when acute water scarcity forces reliance on available but usually of degradable quality sources, their right to decent, hygienic and sanitary living is severely compromised, creating avenues for possibilities for disease outbreaks.

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“The stress of having to contend with stigmatisation and extra physical and mental efforts to secure sanitary living translates to serious psychosocial violence.

“MHM needs adequate access to water, soap, sanitary towels, and safe space for using water and changing menstrual towels. A majority of women and girls in our rural areas can neither afford nor have access to these basic necessities.

“When women in their menstrual cycles are denied access to water and safe spaces for menstrual hygiene management as in Mbiabet Ikot Udo, they are directly and indirectly subjected to psychosocial and other forms of gender-based violence, as well as affect their health, as they struggle to make up for such deprivation. Their human dignity is severely violated, and they lack the voice and capacity to surmount such challenges,” Akpabio said.