Mothers of twins denied access to water in Akwa Ibom community

On Friday, Prof. Emmanuel Akpabio, the Coordinator of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene – Gender Project Team, revealed that menstruating women and mothers of twin children were denied access to drinking water in a community in Akwa Ibom. This restriction was based on the belief that accessing the water would cause it to dry up.

The community, known as Mbiabet Ikot Udo in Ini Local Government Area of the state, has held this belief for decades without being challenged. The lack of access to drinking water has raised concerns about the safety of the only available water source in the region, leading to worries that it might be poisoned.

Prof. Akpabio emphasized that the lack of access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services poses significant constraints on women, girls, and vulnerable individuals, preventing them from engaging in economic and educational activities. He called for urgent public intervention to provide water to such communities, which would also help address the problem of open defecation.

The situation in Mbiabet Ikot Udo highlights gender-based discrimination in accessing WASH services, subjecting women to psychosocial and other forms of gender-based violence, ultimately affecting their health.

The practice has particularly affected menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in the study communities. Misconceptions, myths, and lack of knowledge and awareness around MHM for women and girls have been observed. When women and girls are denied access to water during menstruation or have to travel long distances to access WASH facilities, it compromises their right to a decent, hygienic, and sanitary living environment, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

MHM requires adequate access to water, soap, sanitary towels, and safe spaces for changing menstrual products. However, many women and girls in rural areas lack access to these basic necessities due to economic circumstances and limited availability of resources.

The denial of water access and safe spaces for menstrual hygiene management constitutes a form of gender-based violence, violating the human dignity of affected women and girls, who often lack the means to overcome such challenges.