Rhino camp lacks safe water
Aug 16, 2010
Residents of Rhino camp sub-county, Lower Madi Okollo in arua district are worried about the possible outbreak of water-borne diseases due to lack of safe water.<br>Being located near the bank of River Nile, the locals fetch water from the river, which is dangerous to their health.
By Richard Adrama
Residents of Rhino camp sub-county, Lower Madi Okollo in arua district are worried about the possible outbreak of water-borne diseases due to lack of safe water.
Being located near the bank of River Nile, the locals fetch water from the river, which is dangerous to their health.
The sub-county, comprising four parishes, has only three boreholes. One is located in the trading centre, the other is at Rhino camp primary school and the third one is at the Bisimbilai, 3km from the church. Speaking to New Vision on Friday, Fr. Charles Openytho of Rhino camp Catholic parish, said the borehole, serving the school, the church and the locals around, broke down in May.
The other two, he added, produced salty water and the pipes had rusted. The tank at the school was also leaking, he said. Openytho noted: “Some locals avoid borehole water, which is relatively safer, saying it is hard and salty. They go for the river water, exposing themselves to the risk of contracting bilharzia.â€
The district health officer, Dr. Patrick Anguzu, said it was risky to use river water for cooking and drinking as it carries different forms of pollutants and disease-causing germs. He, however, observed that: “The possibility of water-borne diseases is assessed after we have carried out tests on a sample of the water source.â€
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a teacher at Rhino camp primary School said Neptune Petroleum, an oil exploration company, pledged to construct a borehole for the village. The company is yet to fulfill its promise.
In the event of an epidemic outbreak, the area is bound to face a crisis since the only health centre is inadequately equipped and poorly staffed.
Residents of Rhino camp sub-county, Lower Madi Okollo in arua district are worried about the possible outbreak of water-borne diseases due to lack of safe water.
Being located near the bank of River Nile, the locals fetch water from the river, which is dangerous to their health.
The sub-county, comprising four parishes, has only three boreholes. One is located in the trading centre, the other is at Rhino camp primary school and the third one is at the Bisimbilai, 3km from the church. Speaking to New Vision on Friday, Fr. Charles Openytho of Rhino camp Catholic parish, said the borehole, serving the school, the church and the locals around, broke down in May.
The other two, he added, produced salty water and the pipes had rusted. The tank at the school was also leaking, he said. Openytho noted: “Some locals avoid borehole water, which is relatively safer, saying it is hard and salty. They go for the river water, exposing themselves to the risk of contracting bilharzia.â€
The district health officer, Dr. Patrick Anguzu, said it was risky to use river water for cooking and drinking as it carries different forms of pollutants and disease-causing germs. He, however, observed that: “The possibility of water-borne diseases is assessed after we have carried out tests on a sample of the water source.â€
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a teacher at Rhino camp primary School said Neptune Petroleum, an oil exploration company, pledged to construct a borehole for the village. The company is yet to fulfill its promise.
In the event of an epidemic outbreak, the area is bound to face a crisis since the only health centre is inadequately equipped and poorly staffed.