BMU leaders around Lake Victoria urged to ensure cleanliness to avoid disease outbreaks

Bondo, Sunday May 14, 2023

KNA by Anita Georgious

Yimbo Beach Management Unit (BMU) assistant chairperson Julius Odembo has asked other leaders of BMUs around Lake Victoria to ensure beach residents do not contaminate the lake to avoid outbreak of water borne diseases.

Speaking to Kenya News Agency on phone Odembo said activities such as washing clothes, bathing, disposing of dippers and answering call of nature in the lake waters by beach neighbours have contributed significantly to its current pollution resulting to disease outbreaks.

The BMU leader regretted that currently Siaya County was facing outbreak of cholera and contamination of the lake water could escalate the spread of the disease.

"Due to the ongoing heavy rains the lake tends to get polluted especially with human wastes which are swept into it by running water. To avoid drinking contaminated water, BMU leaders ought to sensitize their people to boil the water,” he said.

He also urged the BMU leaders to take the lead in ensuring that the environment around beaches is clean to keep diseases at bay.

Odembo also asked counties neighbouring the lake including Siaya, Kisumu, Busia and Homabay to develop regulations that would guard against its pollution for the benefit of all lake users.

He also challenged the county governments to not only conduct health and environmental sensitization campaigns along the lake but also establish health facilities with medical practitioners within the beaches to offer medication to residents.  

Courtesy; K.N.A