President visits Havana informal settlement

WINDHOEK, Feb. 4 – The sewerage system in the Havana informal settlement was last year identified as playing a major role in the outbreak of Hepatitis E last December. President Hage Geingob visited the Havana informal settlement on Friday to assess the progress so far, in rehabilitating the sewerage system.

Addressing the community, Geingob explained that Sanitation and hygiene are related concepts, and that it was necessary for people living in informal settlements to look after the ablution facilities which the municipality provided.

He added that people had moved to the locations earlier than expected, and as a result, the land was not serviced. He said, “The municipality tried its level best to set up basic services in these areas, and you as the community need to look after theses facilities and take care of them.

Geingob said the state and community had come together to declare war on poor sanitation within informal settlements in Windhoek, vowing to do what needs to be done to curtail further spread of the Hepatitis E virus.

In addition, Geingob advised the community not to relieve themselves anywhere they wanted to, and that if in extreme cases they did, they should cover up after themselves.

“As I have been walking, I noticed that stools are not covered, they are exposed out in the open. Why not dig a hole and cover it once you are done with your business? We all come from bushes and for the sake of hygiene you have to cover your stools afterwards,” he said.

The President paid a visit to patients who tested positive for Hepatitis E and were placed under quarantine at the Katutura State Hospital after his visit to the informal settlement. – Jonsey Douglas