| Where |
Zamfara, Nigeria – 7 villages |
| What |
Lead poisoning from small-scale gold mining processing lead-laden ore |
| Health Damage/Impact |
Over 400 children under the age of 5 dead in 3 villages, 2,500 more at risk of death or acute illness. |
| Intervention |
Emergency environmental decontamination in 7 villages, 282 residential compounds, 107 external areas, 23 processing ponds. As areas were cleaned up, medical treatment could begin. |
| Partners |
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Zamfara State and Nigerian Federal health authorities
- World Health Organization
- TerraGraphics
|
| Outcomes |
Exposure Reduction achieved – the village cleanups have markedly reduced lead and mercury exposures and the risk of mortality and significant adverse health effects among an estimated combined population of 8551. |
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MSF has been able to provide clinical services to several hundred families and institute chelation treatment for approximately 1000 children five years old and under, as of January 2011. |
| Capacity built |
A large compliment of Zamfara State and LGA staff has been trained to manage and supervise the remediation program. Several hundred villagers and local suppliers have been provided jobs and acquired experience in implementing the remedial protocols. The ZMoE has established a new agency to undertake remediation and regulate artisanal mining processing. Anka LGA, Emirate and Bagega village officials have established committees to address artisanal mining, prevent resumption of dangerous activities, and control recontamination in the villages. |
UNICEF Programme Cooperation Agreement
Environmental Remediation – Lead Poisoning in Zamfara
FINAL REPORT September 2010 – March 2011
Project Completion Report
Poisoning Crisis in Nigeria
