By Chris Mugasha
BUSHENYI: Local Leaders in Bushenyi district have commended the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) for bridging the gaps in the field of sanitation.
The leaders said before the different interventions by the NWSC especially extending water, the issue of sanitation was alarming with statistics indicating that over 80% of the population was using toilets and later leave without washing their hands which was as a result of lack of access to clean water.
This left people prone to diseases like typhoid, cholera, diarrhea and dysentery. The situation was worse in highly populated public places like government aided and private schools among others.
Speaking during the district’s budget conference on Monday, the district Chief Administration Officer (CAO) Sanyu Phionah Nyamutoro said safe water coverage now stands at 85% which she attributed to the different stakeholders including NWSC.
Caption: Bushenyi District’s current status.
NWSC took over most of the Gravity Flow schemes in the district at the time when most of the schemes had failed to be maintained and this led people with no access to safe and clean water.
“We don’t have any other development partner in that area (of safe and clean water) apart from the NWSC,” said the district chairman Jaffari Bassajjabalaba. He said that much as the district has constructed and repaired a number of boreholes and water springs, a bigger percentage of water extensions and connections have been carried out by NWSC.
“For example, NWSC has implemented a over Shs11billion water project in Kakanju and this has left Kakanju a changed area interms of sanitation,” the Kakanju sub county district LCV councilor Adinan Tumuhairwe adding that, “we cannot do without NWSC.”
Tumuhairwe disclosed that they have even resolved in the district council to pattern with NWSC to solve the remaining challenges.
However, during the budget conference it was reported that some health centres which are supposed to be centres of excellence interms of sanitation and hygiene are struggling due dilapidated structures and lack of sanitary facilities- toilets/pit latrines.
The health centres with old and full pit latrines are; Kyeizoba, Rushinya, Swazi, Kabushaho, Nyabubare and Nyarugote health centres.
End.
