Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Africa Water & Sanitation & Hygiene August 2018 | Page 8

NEWS in brief
Laing and Msisi. We’ve achieved this by supporting the
transformation of LWSC’s business model to include the
community-based management of water supplies in each
district.
In Kanyama and Chazanga in particular, we’ve provided
technical assistance to LWSC to develop business models
that are designed to be managed by community-based
water trusts and are economically and environmentally
sustainable. With LWSC providing the overall management,
these community-based models are promoting the uptake
of services in low-income communities.
Supporting investment through the Lusaka Sanitation
Programme
Water & Sanitation for Urban Poor (WSUP) are working
with LWSC on the US$180 million Lusaka Sanitation
Programme. The pit-emptying service we’ve developed with
LWSC forms the basis for on-site sanitation services that
will be scaled up under this programme. We’re also working
with LWSC to establish a toilet database, keeping record of
where toilets in Lusaka’s low-income communities are, how
full they are and when they need emptying. This will also
make it easier to scale up pit-emptying businesses.
Around Africa
Mkoba polyclinics, where affected people are being treated,
the disease has affected more than 600 people who have
been treated or are receiving treatment.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has condemned
Gweru City Council water as unsafe for drinking amid
reports more people continue succumbing to typhoid
following an outbreak of the disease in Gweru City.
At least 5 people have been confirmed dead following the
outbreak while over 600 were affected by the deadly disease.
The most affected areas are Mkoba 15, 18 and 20 high
density suburbs.
It is suspected that the water was contaminated by sewage
which trespassed into water pipes.
Improving access to water
Working with LWSC, we’ve helped 300,000 low-income
communities across Lusaka access safe, affordable water
services by providing communal water kiosks, pre-paid
dispensers, and public standpipes. This has been achieved
by setting up agreements that allow community-based water
trusts to provide services on behalf of the city utility. By
working with LWSC and its delegated managers, the water
trusts, we’ve strengthened the quality of services provided
to low-income customers.
Zimbabwe
Council Water Deemed Unsafe
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has condemned
Gweru City Council water as unsafe for drinking amid
reports more people continue succumbing to typhoid
following an outbreak of the disease in Gweru City.
At least 5 people have been confirmed dead following the
outbreak while over 600 were affected by the deadly disease.
The most affected areas are Mkoba 15, 18 and 20 high
density suburbs.
It is suspected that the water was contaminated by sewage
which trespassed into water pipes.
Sources said the number of the people who succumbed to
the disease is suspected to be more than 10, but some of the
cases were not reported.
According to statistics from Gweru Provincial Hospital and
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Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • August 2018
Sources said the number of the people who succumbed to
the disease is suspected to be more than 10, but some of the
cases were not reported.
According to statistics from Gweru Provincial Hospital and
Mkoba polyclinics, where affected people are being treated,
the disease has affected more than 600 people who have
been treated or are receiving treatment.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa
warned Gweru City Council against misleading residents
that its water was safe, when indications on the ground
suggest that the water is contaminated.
Dr Parirenyatwa said Gweru City Council should look into
its water and sewer reticulation system and ensure that the
water is safe to drink.
“We have received a report that five people died in Gweru
as a result of suspected typhoid. Let us be cautious with
our water. We do not want to hear people say that our
water is safe. It is not safe. Let us be cautious with tape
water in particular. We should introduce aqua tablets that
have chlorine and teach our people to treat water at home
until we are sure that our water is safe. Home treatment is
very key. The local authority should look into the water and
sewer reticulation system,” he said.
Dr Parirenyatwa called for a holistic, collective and profound
effort in dealing with the typhoid outbreak