Why war on cholera is proving to be an uphill battle in Dar

Dar es Salaam. Efforts to control the spread of cholera—that has so far killed 17 people in Dar—may not bear fruit any time soon because public health authorities have failed to tackle the deadly disease at its sources, according to a survey by The Citizen.

That is one aspect. Another cause for the continued spread of the deadly disease is that people do not abide by basic sanitation practices.

At least 17 people have died in Dar es Salaam and 2,000 others have been hospitalised with severe diarrhoea and vomiting.

Following the outbreak, authorities banned the selling of food in the streets as a way of containing the outbreak. Also on the blacklist is drinking water packed in plastic bags. City authorities have also imposed fines on those caught violating public health rules.

However, all these measures seem to have had little impact in curbing the spread of the disease. Food vendors are still openly selling food in unhygienic surroundings despite the ban.

Poor infrastructure is also to blame for the outbreak. Raw sewage flowing into houses and market places and filth are common in many parts of the city.

Cholera—transmitted mainly through contaminated water and food—causes acute diarrhoea that can cause death by dehydration and kidney failure within hours.

A survey by The Citizen in various parts of the city has established that despite the ban on food vending in all three municipalities, compliance has been a problem and it seems that the authorities have given up.

Seafood, chicken, fruits and juices were openly on sale in various places visited by The Citizen, with many vendors saying the government had not been serious on its plan.

It is believed that foods sold on the streets are a major factor in frequent cholera outbreaks in Dar es Salaam, prompting authorities to ban food vending in the city.

Lack of awareness of what cholera is and how it can be prevented is another serious obstacle in addressing the epidemic.

A resident of Buguruni said the government had failed to put up infrastructure in the area. “We have for many years been surrounded by with human waste. The old sewerage system in the area is dilapidated and overflowing 24 hours a day and close to it are water pipes that are leaking,” he said.

“We are afraid of using this water…we have for a long time complained to the Ilala Municipal Council, but nothing has been done. Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (Dawasco) officials are passing here every day, but they are indifferent,” he said.

Residents also complained about Sukita’s waste water ponds close to the area, saying they emitted a foul smell and were a cholera risk.

Last week, Dawasco refuted claims that water supplied by the public utility in some areas is contaminated with bacteria that cause cholera.

Dawasco CEO Cyprian Luhemeja said, however, that illegal connections could cause water to be contaminated.

He told reporters that their investigations had established that cholera was most widespread in areas where illegal water connections were common.

Mr Luhemeja named the areas as Buguruni, Kigogo, Mburahati, Mwananyamala and Magomeni.

Mr Juma Hassan, a juice vendor in Kariakoo, said he believed that cholera was caused by demons, and that it has nothing to do with hygiene.

Our survey established that municipal authorities had failed to clear food vendors from the streets, especially in busy areas like bus stands.

Fried chicken, roast meat, seafood, fruit juice and fruits are sold in dirty surroundings in Buguruni as the authorities look the other way.

Addressing the problem of recurrent cholera outbreaks in Dar es Salaam will prove to be an uphill task if city authorities fail to deal with the root cause of the outbreaks.

Asked about the shortcomings in responding to the disease, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Said Meck Sadick said he needed to be briefed on the situation on the ground before giving a statement.