In Summary
Poor hygiene, which is one of the leading causes of
disease, can be eliminated at relatively little cost. But inadequate
funding and poor enforcement still leads to many potentially resourceful
people falling ill.
We are far from winning the battle against
diseases, which was cited as one of our three major enemies when we
attained political independence in December 1961. The others are poverty
and ignorance.
Poor hygiene, which is one of the leading causes
of disease, can be eliminated at relatively little cost. But inadequate
funding and poor enforcement still leads to many potentially resourceful
people falling ill.
Our under-staffed and under-equipped public health system is overwhelmed by demand, which only makes matters worse.
A recent Mwananchi survey reveals that some 3,000
students in three schools in Dar es Salaam Region’s Kinondoni District
share filthy toilets with only 10 pits.
Tanzania’s biggest city and smaller towns feature countless open-air and makeshift restaurants in an appalling state.
Paradoxically, dispensaries and hospitals are not
spared the smelly toilets that are a feature of the landscape. But
health officers seldom inspect them.
This cadre--which should lead from the front when
it comes to preventing diseases and conducting health promotion
campaigns--tends to take action only when cholera strikes. A remarkable
difference could be achieved if public service expenditure on travel,
seminars and vehicles were reduced.
The savings could then be invested in lavatories in schools and bus stations. Only then can we say no to harassment by diseases.
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