The Nigerian government  has been called upon to commit significant resources to respond to the lead poisoning epidemic in Zamfara State, which has killed or maimed thousands of children since 2010.

The call was made by international medical humanitarian organisation, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other delegates at the International Lead Poisoning Conference held in Abuja.

Delegates at the conference endorsed an action plan calling for the Nigerian government’s commitment to resolve the crisis, which included three key pillars: medical care; environmental remediation; and safer mining.

To  succeed, government, in particular the ministries of mines, environment, and health at both Federal and state levels, must commit to significant resources and coordination efforts.  Decision-makers from the Nigerian government and the ministers of mines, environment, and health were not present at the event and no concrete action  was announced.

“There has been plenty of talk, but now is the time for action,” said Ivan Gayton, MSF country representative in Nigeria. “MSF will consider this conference to be a success when all of the poisoned children are living in a safe environment and receiving treatment.”

Promised funds of N850 million ($5.4 million) for environmental remediation (the removal of contaminants) and safer mining in Zamfara have languished for months, while thousands of children continue to suffer from acute lead poisoning.

Release of the funds is a key priority of the Action Plan, as is the immediate remediation of the village of Bagega, where an estimated 1,500 children have been suffering from lead poisoning since 2010. They continue to wait for their village to be made safe. MSF cannot provide effective treatment in locations such as Bagega, until it is remediated. MSF treats the sickest children at its inpatient facility in Anka Hospital.

“The people of Bagega are desperate for help,” said Zakaria Mwatia, a nurse and project coordinator for MSF in Zamfara. “Some of the villagers are attempting to remediate their own compounds in hopes that MSF will be able to provide treatment.”

“To effectively cut the pathways of lead contamination requires specialized expertise and equipment,” said Simba Tirima, a scientist with Terragraphics, an environmental engineering firm.