Chainama college students in water blues

Tue, 16 May 2017 11:05:33 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA

STUDENTS from Chainama College of Health Sciences in Lusaka have complained over erratic water supply by the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) and have asked the utility company to look into the matter and ensure that it finds a lasting solution to the water challenges the are facing.

Some students complained that the water shortage was making their lives difficult because they were forced to move long distances to go and fetch water, hence studying time table was being affected too.

Salamu Nachalwe, an environmental health student, explained that the water shortage was risking the health of the students at the institution because going for many days without water was a health hazard for it could lead to an outbreak of disease.

She said water shortage at Chainama College as well as residential area was also inconveniencing lecturers because they have to go and fetch water before going for class and lecturers were reporting for work late due to the same challenge.

Another clinical officer student Titus Chilende said the situation at the learning institution was getting out of hand because the shortage of water was now the order of the day, hence the college management should find an alternative like putting up water tanks or sinking boreholes.

He said students have been deprived of their right of access to water because the school management and water utility company had not explained or issued a statement why there was no water.

“It is unfortunate that learning institutions such as Chainama are still having water challenges in this era where diseases are breaking out on a daily basis and people are being forced to walk long distances to look for water.

“We need water as students and we are appealing to Lusaka Water to look into the issue so that we can have running and safe drinking water because we use communal and flushable toilets,” one of them said.

And some residents in the area have also raised concern over erratic water supply by the water utility.

They said it was saddening that children’s education was being affected because of constant water shortages in the area. They said there was urgent need for the water utility company to look into the matter and ensure that water was made available in good time.

“We think the issue of water should be given priority because water is life. We all deserve access to clean water regardless of where we live,” one of the residents said.