STOP CONSUMING DIRTY WATER, SIAYA RESIDENTS WARNED

Apr 07, 2015 William Adoyo News, Regional 0

Residents of Siaya County have been warned against fetching and consuming stagnant dirty water from roadside trenches to prevent outbreak of diarrhoea diseases in the region.

According to the County Health Promotion Officer Mr. Jacob Chieng’ some residents have resorted to fetching water from trenches and abandoned ditches near their homes, following the ongoing heavy rains fall witnessed in few past days.

Mr. Chieng’ who was speaking during Health promotion workshop in Ndori , disclosed that the onset of heavy rains has led to change in water fetching habits among the residents and majority prefer fetching stagnant dirty water near their homes as opposed to making long trips to the lake or designated water  points.

He regretted that the change of habit is likely to expose the region to outbreak of water borne and diarrhoea diseases as the stagnant water is mainly contaminated by the human wastes since a good number of residents still use open spaces to answer calls of nature.

The Officer further revealed that the contaminated water is rarely treated before use since it is the children who are charged with responsibility of fetching the water for the family use.

He pointed out that although the region did not have any reported cases of cholera during just ended long dry spells, it could still be exposed to the disease and therefore appropriate interventions have been put in place to take care of any eventuality.

The Workshop which brought together sub county health promotion officers from the six sub counties in Siaya was sponsored by Population Services International.

He was speaking after more than seven people died and another over 78 people admitted at various hospitals and dispensaries in Kamagambo Migori County following an outbreak of acute diarrhoea the county.

Stop Consuming Dirty Water

The disease brought a lot fear among the residents living in Rongo was sub county and with this he said that the county was taking all measures possible to make Siaya County cholera free.

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