By Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau
Growing concerns have emerged in Zamfara State over the possible outbreak of deadly diseases linked to open defecation and the rising spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among displaced persons taking refuge across the state.
Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs), forced from their communities by persistent bandit attacks, are currently occupying various parts of Gusau, the state capital, and other local government headquarters without adequate sanitation facilities or healthcare support.
Investigations revealed that many displaced families now reside in uncompleted buildings and overcrowded settlements in areas such as Samaru, Mareri, Saminaka, Gada Biyu and Janyau Gabas in Gusau metropolis, where access to toilets and basic hygiene facilities is either poor or completely absent.
Residents of the affected communities have raised alarm over the increasing presence of human waste in public spaces, warning that the situation poses a serious public health threat.
Medical experts say open defecation remains one of the leading causes of communicable diseases, including cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea, dysentery and hepatitis. They warned that poor sanitation could contaminate food and water sources, thereby increasing the risk of widespread outbreaks.
Health workers in the state also expressed concern that public hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) are becoming overstretched due to the growing number of displaced persons seeking medical attention.
A health personnel in Gusau, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said healthcare facilities across the state are struggling to cope with the increasing demand for drugs and medical services.
“The population of displaced persons has increased pressure on hospitals and PHCs beyond what was originally planned. Medical supplies are becoming inadequate because of the growing number of patients,” the source said.
The source added that similar conditions are being experienced across the 14 local government areas of the state, where displaced families continue to settle in large numbers.
Meanwhile, concerns are also mounting over the increasing rate of commercial sex activities involving some displaced young women, especially in Gusau and other local government headquarters.
Findings indicated that many of the women, driven by hunger and poverty, engage in transactional sex to support themselves and their families, a development health experts fear could worsen the spread of STDs among youths in the state.
Medical professionals in Zamfara warned that infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases are already recording alarming rates in hospitals across the state.
One displaced young woman, who requested anonymity, said she was forced into commercial sex after armed bandits attacked her community and killed members of her family.
According to her, survival has become extremely difficult since the attack forced them out of their village.
“Our village was attacked by bandits about a year ago. My father and three brothers were killed, and we could not return home,” she said.
“I now live in an uncompleted building with my mother and two sisters. I had no option but to engage in prostitution because we need food to survive.
“I am the one taking care of my family. Sometimes I earn enough money at night to feed them. We cannot survive through begging alone,” she added.
Residents and health stakeholders have called on the Zamfara State Government, humanitarian agencies and relevant authorities to urgently improve sanitation, healthcare and humanitarian support for displaced persons to prevent a major public health crisis in the state.
