Critical shortage of clean water at Mugoboka

The Mugoboka public tap gone dry for more than two weeks

“No drop of water comes out of the public tap installed in the locality of Mugoboka for over two weeks. The population indicates that having drinking water is like getting blood out of a stone. The poor fetch water from the Ntahangwa River, “deplores Pontient Mugenzi, a student at the University of Burundi living in Mugoboka neighborhood, central-east of the capital Bujumbura.

This student fears a possible outbreak of cholera epidemic and bacillary dysentery because of the lack of clean water. “We are in danger because the majority of Mugoboka population drink water from the river,” he added.

A young woman regrets that her kids are suffering from diarrhea. “My children are victims of poverty. Since this tap does not work, we use water from the Ntahangwa River. People more or less well-off buy a twenty-liter can of drinking water for BIF 1,000,” she complains.

Mugenzi asks the Burundian authorities to find an immediate solution to this problem. “The authorities should intervene before the outbreak of cholera epidemic.”

Reverien Nibasumba, head of Mugoboka area says he has already submitted the issue to the head of Rohero urban zone. He hopes that this problem will soon be solved. “Before any solution, I would like to ask the people to boil the river water before drinking it, “he warns.

About 100 cases of cholera have been identified in Kabezi health district (24 km from Bujumbura capital city) between 27 July and 17 August.