A medical team is expected to conduct a sweep of the West Watooka community today while environmental health officers are set to visit tomorrow after residents expressed uneasiness over increased illnesses and environmental issues.
Recently residents summoned the media and Regional Chairman Kuice Sharma Solomon and they highlighted their concerns about the rising incidents of dengue, malaria and typhoid mainly among children and some adults.
The problems are a spin-off from the main canals not being maintained and according to residents and farmers it has been more than one year this has not been done. The rains came and caused flooding in the West Watooka area where farmers recorded millions of dollars in losses. The problem escalated, posing health risks and further loss of produce while also threatening livestock and poultry in the area.
Contacted yesterday Solomon said that he was informed by the NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority) engineer that the Pioneer Contracting Company had indicated that it was possible to clear the back canal which was identified as the root cause of the stagnated water in the other waterways.
Solomon said that the situation was brought to the attention of the local Health and Environmental bodies and they have responded promptly.
“I spoke with them including Dr. Armstrong (Regional Health Officer) and they would deal with the situation in the most appropriate way,” said Solomon.
A medical team will sweep the entire West Watooka area and they will provide required medical care where and if necessary.
Tomorrow the Environmental Health Officer is expected to do the required sampling and testing of the water. “She will also engage residents and provide a report and make recommendations on the clearing of the canals,” said Solomon.
However residents are not comfortable with the proposal since they say that the contractor has not been doing work of a satisfactory standard.
“We are not going to accept him coming in here to do that work, we will do it ourselves,” said one farmer. Another said that because of the terrain and the back canal it would be impossible for the contractor to take machinery in. “This has to get manpower, we did it ourselves in the past and let them pay us, we will do a perfect job,” he added.
Most farmers in the area condemned the works done by the contractor. They said the existing problem would not have occurred had the NDIA not stopped issuing the contracts to the farmers and residents to do the works.
“One year, one year no work done here. One year all because of stupid politics,” said a female farmer.
Up to press time Solomon was making efforts to contact NDIA coordinator Lionel Wordsworth to lobby for further assistance on behalf of West Watooka residents and farmers.
