How funds released to help #SaveBagega is working

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!

Download "When will the funds reach Zamfara to Save 1,500 children in Bagega" our 3 months report (Oct - Dec 2012) in PDF

Lead Poisoning in Zamfara: A Case of Bagega

This information is according to what we have seen happening in Bagega and as accounted for at the Stakeholders meeting, for any information contrary email info@followthemoneyng.org

MSF (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS) BEGINS TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN BAGEGA

[INFOGRAPHICS] How 837.3million NGN was shared with Federal Ministries to help remediate, provide health services and encourage safer mining practices in Zamfara State

Doctors Without Borders has started the treatment of the first of four groups of lead poisoned children in Bagega. MSF will not be able to treat children from the remaining three groups until the lead has been successfully removed from their homes. Much reason why remediation must not be delayed, and must end before the rain becomes persistent.

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On April 22, 2013 Doctors Without Borders started the treatment of lead poisoned children

BEFORE THE RAINS HALT REMEDIATION: EQUIPMENTS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE!

As the rains drop about 32km from Bagega today, "Availability of equipments are slowing down the work here" - says one of the workers. "We should have gone far with cleaning up this community, as the rains might become our biggest threat" continued the worker. None of the XRFs to be purchased according to the budget as been made available, and the one's borrowed have now been overworked!

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Clean up of the compound where 10 children died of lead poisoning in Bagega

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.

The project board at the remediation team quarters in Bagega, Zamfara

"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.

Testing and Characterization of compounds began on Tuesday February 12, 2013

"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.

A cross-section of participants at the stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

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

1 of the vehicles provided for Remediation sighted in Bagega 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!

Perhaps, you will like to give suggestions, recommendations or make enquiries,perhaps endorse us - kindly email: hamzy@followthemoneyng.org or oludotun@followthemoneyng.org We'll be glad you did!