Lokwamusing village in Turkana County is facing a looming disease outbreak as a result of improper human waste disposal. Out of 352 households, only 12 have latrines, forcing many residents to use the bushes to relieve themselves.
“Many people have to go to the bush carrying hoes, which they use to dig holes in which they relieve themselves before covering the waste,” says Jenipher Namuleni, chair of a local women’s support group in the village.
The situation is so dire that even the local dispensary in Lokwamusing does not have a latrine. The nearest one is at the Lokwamusing Police Station, which is not far but is restricted for security reasons.
Apart from living in fear due to constant attacks from neighbouring communities and the threat of hunger, the villagers are now exposed to the risk of catching communicable diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. This is worsened by rare but heavy rainfall, whose occurrence often results in flooding. Lack of clean water complicates an already bad situation.
Namuleni says, “The pump used to fill the tank stalled and was taken for repair over a year ago but has never been returned.”
The water shortage has led to women devising ways to survive. It is now ‘normal’ for them to use unwashed utensils.
Namuleni, however, says the worst tragedy is the illiteracy among residents, which makes them unaware of the dangers of poor sanitation.
The irony is that Turkana County has a large reserve of water that can quench the whole country for many years.
Lokwamusing currently draws water from a spring about two kilometres from the village. The current spring is beside another disused one that Maria Nataruk, a villager, says was left after the water became bitter.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that sub-Saharan Africa is not on track to meet targets for clean drinking water. The only countries that have achieved this target are Malawi, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Namibia.
Margaret Njenga, World Vision’s national health co-ordinator, says poverty is the greatest problem facing the people in this village located more than 100km from the county headquarters, Lodwar, and about 40km from Lokichar, the nearest town.
Dr Njenga says eradication of poverty would go a long way in dealing with other problems like water and sanitation.
“With poor sanitation, diarrhoea and cholera would get worse, especially among children and this leads to more poverty as the meagre resources are channelled to medical care,” says Njenga.
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