admin
Mashudu Mambo
RESIDENTS associations in Bulawayo have engaged communities warning them on the dangers of using unclean sources of water saying they would be putting themselves at the risk of contracting water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea.
Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) and Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) warned that using unsafe water supplies was a potential health risk.
The city has been experiencing a severe water crisis, which the council blamed on electricity outages.
According to Bulawayo City Council (BCC) corporate communications manager Nesisa Mpofu, since January, the city had a cumulative total of 850 diarrhoea cases reported, with 39 cases having been reported against a threshold of 69 cases during the week ending 15 April.
Mpofu said the local authority had put in place a number of interventions to help control the spread of the disease.
“People should seek medical attention early, in the event of any illness; desist from using unsafe alternative water sources; wash hands with soap and running water; keep utensils clean and stored in clean places, boil water as a precaution; keep water in clean and covered containers and as well keep the environment clean,” she said.
In an interview Bura chairperson Winos Dube said they had conducted meetings to educate residents on the dangers of using unsafe water sources.
“We have been educating communities about the dangers of using unsafe water supplies and this is an ongoing process which is continuing every time we have meetings with residents. It’s a process that is ongoing and even from the Ministry of Health and Child Care through the clinics,” said Dube.
He said the increase in cases of diarrhoea were a result of the water challenges being experienced in the city.
“This has forced them to use water from unsafe sources resulting in the increase of diarrhoea cases. Some suburbs in Bulawayo are going for more than two weeks without water.
“This caused an increase in these cases because when there is no water people find themselves resorting to fetching water anywhere and even from the boreholes which are sometimes not safe at all,” he said.
He said they had engaged the BCC as a pressure group adding that the engagement had been effective as some measures had been implemented.
“We are always talking with the council whenever we experience these outbreaks in any area.
“These engagements proved to be effective because measures are being implemented. It is therefore our thrust that we continue engaging the local authority and making sure that measures are being put in place to avert these outbreaks,” he said.
BPRA secretary for administration Thembelani Dube said one of the causes of the outbreak of diarrhoea was overcrowding in some vending spaces.
“Overcrowding in some illegal vending spaces which are sprouting across the city is also contributing to the outbreak of water-borne diseases.
We have, however, made efforts to educate residents on diarrhoea through different meetings and media platforms,” said Thembelani.
He said residents had expressed their concern which they had also directed to the Government.
“Residents have expressed their dismay at the prolonged water shedding periods and erratic schedules by writing to the Government to declare the water challenges in Bulawayo a state of disaster.
“This led to Lake Gwayi-Shangani being granted national priority status by the Government so as to help alleviate the perennial water challenges being experienced in Bulawayo. The Epping Forest borehole project is also being resuscitated to augment dams’ supplies,” said Thembelani.
He further stated that the engagements with the city council had also been fruitful.
“Water sources are a national obligation and priority, as much as city health issues are a priority for the local authority. This has seen the BCC weekly programme the Nyawo lunye leZakhamizi being aired on Skyz Metro FM and the updates we are getting indicate that the engagements are bearing fruit,” said Thembelani.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
mbulelo smpofu
