Residents of Ngomeni, Katine, and syanthi villages in Tala location of Matungulu, Machakos County have been told to construct toilets to prevent Bilharzia infestation among other diseases.
Matungulu public health officer Charles Muthama said majority of residents from the named villages defecate in thickets since they do not have toilets in their home thereby exposing them to health risks.
Muthama spoke at a public baraza in Ngomeni within the sub county on Wednesday.
He said the feces find their ways into water bodies in the region which residents depend on for both domestic and livestock usage.
"These villages are surrounded by quarries that have been filled with water this rainy season, snails which spread bilharzia hatch eggs in these quarries posing health hazard to residents who use the water for domestic use," Muthama said.
"Majority of the locals work in quarries and their households use water from them for use in their homes. Since the water is stagnant, bilharzia snails hatch eggs and spread the disease to residents," he added.
Muthama advised residents to treat and boil water before drinking and also store water for at least three days before using to keep bilharzia at bay.
He said bilharzia is fatal and can lead to cancer of the intestines and death.
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