KCCA cracks down on fruit vendors to curb cholera

PIC: KCCA enforcement team confiscating fresh merchandise from vendors along Arua Park Kampala suburb on Thursday. ( Credit: Abbey Ramadhan )

HEALTH DRIVE

CHOLERA- Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement team yesterday carried out an operation to crack down on all fruits hawkers in the city in a move to minimise the spread of cholera.

The move, according to KCCA director of Public and Corporate Affairs, Peter Kaujju, is to curb on the increasing incidents of cholera epidemic.  

By Wednesday Mulago and Naguru had confirmed 15 cases of cholera up from 10.

KCCA enforcement team spent the entire day confiscating mangoes, oranges, sugarcanes, packed fruits and tomatoes from vendors in the city centre, around the areas of Kisenyi, Nakivubo, Nakivubo Channel, Wilson and Ben Kiwanuka Street.

The officers who carried out the operation told New Vision that the move was intended to reduce on cholera incidents in Kampala.

Kaujju said the mango and sugarcane vendors peel the fruits for their customers, yet they do not wash the fruits and hands. 

Speaking to New Vision, Dr Najib Lukooya, the KCCA deputy director for  environment and sanitation, said it is true most areas lack toilets, but the problem is bigger than just toilets and clean water.

He pointed out that poor physical planning and unregulated occupation and construction of household structure in swampy areas such as Kinawataka, is one of the issues affecting the residents. Other areas affected are Kalerwe and Makindye. 

Vendors look on helplessly as KCCA enforcement officers load their merchandise on the truck. (Credit: Abbey Ramadhan)

Lukooya said the unplanned construction make it difficult for KCCA to plan for better public toilet structures, yet the people themselves cannot afford constructing water borne toilet facilities.

"The area is so congested yet the houses are located in a swamp. KCCA has spent over two years trying to sensitise people to build and own toilets and indeed some of them have complied, but the problem remains big as long as the physical plan of the slums is not revised and streamlined," he said.

He added that even the few public toilets in such areas are full and when they over flow, the waste ends up in the water bodies.


Signs of cholera 

Abrupt severe watery diarrhoea (rice-water stool)

Muscle cramps 

Body weakness

Rapid onset of dehydration