A research which was conducted in Kilimanjaro Region recently has revealed that some 20 per cent of all patients who visited health facilities suffered from ailments which have a close relationship with environmental dirt, such as malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea and dysentery.
Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr Ibrahim Msengi
These diseases are costly to treat medically for both the community and the government. Officiating at the ‘Launching of the National Campaign for Environmental Cleanliness,’ here on Thursday, the Acting Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr Ibrahim Msengi, told his audience that he has been informed that during year 2012, some 26,221 patients, who represented 1.5 per cent of Kilimanjaro regional residents, suffered from diarrhoea.
He mentioned other side effects of the disease as poor attendance of students in schools and high mortality rate among children under five years of age.“The issue of environmental degradation is clearly spelt out in the millennium development goal number 7 and MKUKUTA Group 2 whose aim is environmental improvement.
“It is crucial to improve rural and urban environmental cleanliness which the government is currently implementing,” Dr Msengi, who is also the Moshi District Commissioner, said.
His audience included the Regional Administrative Secretary, Assistant Administrative Secretaries, Municipal and District Development Directors, members of the Regional Health Management Team, District Medical Officers and District Health Officers.
Also present were Heads of Religious Institutions, journalists and others. He said that the government, in collaboration with other development partners, is implementing the initiative at household and school level in 112 district councils countrywide.
“I am told that all district councils have been included in the campaign for the third phase – 2013 / 2014,” he said. He added that the campaign will involve the collection of basic data as well as filling of agreement forms for construction and use of improved latrines, through the campaign known as ‘Community Lead Total Sanitation,” he said.
Dr Msengi further informed his audience that the region targets increasing improved latrines from the present 60 % to 80% by the year 2015 and that to achieve the target, some 24,708 families will be mobilized to construct improved latrines this financial year and beyond.
By PETER TEMBA, Tanzania Daily News
