Windhoek City Council commits to improve water and sanitation in informal settlements affected by the Hepatitis E Virus
The WHO Country Representative in Namibia, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses was invited by the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Windhoek to address the City Council and management on the Hepatitis E Outbreak. The invitation emulated from a consultation between WHO and the City as part of WHO’s advocacy to increase support towards the National Response Plan to contain the Hepatitis E outbreak.
During his opening remarks, His Worship the Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Honorable Muzee Kazapua, confirmed the City’s commitment of N$ 32 million towards the containment of the outbreak. This will be invested over a period of two financial years. The initial N$ 17 million will be allocated in the current financial year which ends June 2018. A large portion will be allocated to the provision of additional toilets and stand pipes water points in the affected communities.
In his statement, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses expressed his sincere appreciation to the City Council for their commitment and efforts towards the containment of the outbreak. He highlighted three key points on why the involvement of all stakeholders is required:
- Windhoek has the reputation of being one of the cleanest cities in Africa and need to protect this reputation
- The population in the two affected informal settlements is most likely to be working in different parts of the city including food outlets. If the outbreak continues the risk of spreading to other parts of town will increase.
- Most people from affected areas are working in houses in the suburbs and their practices related to handwashing could lead to contamination of food or water in the suburbs.
Lastly the WHO representative emphasized the urgency for a coordinated multi-sectoral response in light of its potential impact on the tourism sector.
‘Namibia is one of the preferred tourist destination and having an outbreak of this nature may affect its attractiveness to potential tourists which could have economic implications for the country’, Dr Sagoe-Moses stated.
The Director of Research and Epidemiology from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Mr Pumue Katjiuanjo made a presentation to the City Council and management on the outbreak and response and further thanked the City of Windhoek for their commitment.
