Slum dwellers have been warned against consuming contaminated water and food substances, as they risk contracting diseases and other health related conditions that can be detrimental to their lives.
This was said by Nakuru County Food and Water Control Officer Vincent Ngei at Ronda slum area, during a public health inspection and sensitization tour.
While addressing residents at the Chief’s offices, the officer urged residents to practice safe water and food handling culture, to safeguard their health.
He noted that many area residents rely on water from River Ndarugu and from water vendors, while also many consume un-hygienically oriented food staffs from local food vendors and kiosks, risking contracting waterborne diseases and food poisoning, which are dangerous health conditions.
“I urge residents of this area to boil water, which they harvest from the river and to avoid consuming un-hygienically handled food stuff from street vendors and kiosks,” said Ngei.
“Some of these little things cause complicated health conditions which can prove very expensive to manage,” said Ngei.
He further urged local landlords and leaders to cooperate to ensure that the area residents’ access tapped water to mitigate on dangers involved in consuming contaminated water.
At the same time, the government official said that the public health department had rolled out a major public awareness campaign aimed at reducing environmental health hazards in the county.
He urged residents of the area to participate in the campaign and also to come out with suggestions on what local residents, leaders and the government ought to do to promote public health.