Local Government and Housing Minister Brain Chituwo has urged Water utility companies countrywide to effectively play an active role in preventing the outbreak of water borne diseases.
Dr. Chituwo said this yesterday during the Water Utility Chief Executive Officers’ meeting at Mukuba Hotel.
He advised that Utility companies should ensure that piped water was adequately treated and also carry out consistent monitoring of the quality of drinking water.
“As you all know, during the rainy season, we face cases of cholera especially in peri-urban areas, border towns and those towns near river or lakes, the major contributing factor to this problem is low access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices by communities, I am therefore urging you to play your role in preventing the outbreak of water-borne diseases,” he said.
“You must, among other measures, ensure that the piped water is adequately treated. Putting water treatment chemicals alone is not enough. You should constantly monitor the quality of drinking water to enable you to take remedial or preventive measures where contamination is detected,” he said.
The Minister further advised the Utility companies to take advantage of the on-coming one-week long commemoration of the “Make Zambia Clean and Healthy Campaign” to undertake public outreach activities aimed at preventing the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
“The last week of December will be the long-week commemoration of the ‘’Make Zambia Clean and Healthy Campaign’’. I want to urge you to take advantage of this period to undertake public outreach activities aimed at preventing the outbreak of waterborne diseases,” he said.
ZANIS
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