`Stop relieving yourself on Lake Tanganyika shores’

TANGANYIKA District Commissioner (DC) in Katavi Region, Mr Onesmo Buswelu has urged citizens to stop relieving themselves on Lake Tanganyika shores in efforts to prevent cholera outbreak in the area.

The DC issued statement following reports of lack of toilets in communities along the shores of Lake Tanganyika in district leading to fecal contamination of near shore waters.

“I have a report that people in the precinct do not have proper toilets. This is not acceptable because you put yourselves and others on a great risk of being infected with cholera due to poor sanitation,” he warned

Cholera is an acute diarrhea infection usually contracted by eating or drinking contaminated food or water and is closely linked to poor sanitation.

Additionally, he urged citizens living on the shoreline of Lake Tanganyika in the District to change their behaviours by having toilets at their homes and make proper use of them.

The DC made the call recently while addressing public rally at Karema Ward during his working tour at the area where he inspected development schemes.

He called for concerted efforts to educate the public to build better toilets and properly use them as a measure to avoid cholera outbreak.

“Seriously, in this rainy season I don’t want to hear cases related to cholera outbreak in Karema ward and other precincts along the shore of Lake Tanganyika in the district” vowed the DC.

On his side Tanganyika district council health officer, Mr Henric Mwasibale urged citizens  to avoid eating cold or unhygienic prepared food emphasizing that they should wash their hands with soap and  running water before prepared food, eating and after using toilet.

“Prevention is much better than treatment,” he emphasized.

Recently, the regions of Katavi, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Kigoma and Manyara have been experiencing cholera outbreaks in some councils from February 19 to March this year, there have been reports of 60 patients (Ruvuma one, Kigoma seven, Katavi 34 and Rukwa 18).

Latest available statistics indicate Africa is still grappling with the disease, with a large number of deaths occurring in the continent.