'Awareness on use of soap to wash hands still very low'

BY FRIDAY SIMBAYA

As the country celebrates climax of the national sanitation week today in Njombe Region, the public is reminded that use of soap to wash hands remains very low as does the availability of improved toilet facilities.

The National Sanitation Week combines Global Hand-Washing Day and World Toilet day and has been observed as of November 15 –19.

Speaking during the official opening of a capacity training for journalists on covering sanitation matters, the Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Wamoja Ayubu said a total of 201, 120 households (89 per cent) have toilets in Iringa but only 17 percent have improved toilets.

“Hand washing with soap is only at nine percent,” she decried.

On her part, Khadija Haroun a health officer for Iringa said about 1.8 million people die every year worldwide due to diarrhea and 760,000 children under five years of age die every year from diarrhea related diseases.

“In Tanzania, about 30,000 people die each year from diarrhea,” she said.

"About 60 to 80 per cent of all out patients l have diseases caused by lack of water and sanitation," she added and went on to urge citizens to wash fruits before eating and to always wash hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet.

She said over 60% of schools in the country do not have improved toilet facilities and very few have hand washing points and sanitation facilities for pupils with disabilities are rarely provided and that teachers and other staff suffer the same plight.

It is expected that the National Sanitation Campaign (NSC) will reach 1.52 million households in a span of four years and 812 schools will be provided with improved toilet facilities and hand washing points.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Comments

Four Armed Robbery Suspects Killed In Shootout With Police In Songwe

“This is Vwawa Bus Stand, where the incident occurred in which armed robbers shot and killed a security guard before fleeing with various items.” Songwe. Four suspected armed robbers have been shot dead following a confrontation with police in Songwe Region after allegedly being involved in a violent raid on a mobile phone and financial services shop in Vwawa town, Mbozi District, in which a security guard was killed. According to a statement issued today, December 30, 2025, by the Songwe Regional Police Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Augustino Senga, the incident occurred at around 3:30 a.m. The suspects reportedly stormed the shop, owned by businessman Gabriel Msemwa, at the Vwawa main bus stand, killed the guard, William Mwampashi (45), and fled with assorted items. The deceased suspects have been identified as Bruce Mwasenga, Eliuta Mapunda, Abdul Chiba, and Justine, known by a single name. SACP Senga said police immediately launched intensive, inte...

JAB Yawasogeza Huduma Waandishi Iringa, Yaomba Ushirikiano Kudhibiti Waandishi Wasioidhinishwa

Iringa. Bodi ya Ithibati ya Waandishi wa Habari (JAB) imeendelea na jitihada za kusogeza huduma zake kwa waandishi wa habari nchini, safari hii ikifika katika Klabu ya Waandishi wa Habari Iringa (Iringa Press Club – IPC), ikiwa ni sehemu ya mkakati wa kuboresha tasnia ya habari na kulinda taaluma ya uandishi wa habari. Akizungumza wakati wa kikao na waandishi wa habari mkoani Iringa, Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Bodi ya Ithibati ya Waandishi wa Habari (JAB), Wakili Patrick Kipangula, amesema lengo la ziara hiyo ni kutoa elimu kuhusu majukumu ya bodi, mchakato wa ithibati pamoja na kusikiliza changamoto zinazowakabili waandishi wa habari ngazi ya mikoa. Wakili Kipangula amesema bado kuna changamoto ya uwepo wa watu wanaojihusisha na shughuli za uandishi wa habari bila kuwa na ithibati halali, hali inayochafua tasnia na kuhatarisha maadili ya kazi hiyo nyeti. “Tunawaomba waandishi wa habari kushirikiana na Bodi kwa kuwafichua watu wanaojitambulisha kama waandishi bila kuwa na ithiba...

MUCE IMPLEMENTS SH18.6 BILLION PROJECT IN HONOUR OF FATHER OF THE NATION’S VISION

Iringa. As Tanzania marks 26 years since the passing of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere — a passionate advocate for education — Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), a constituent college of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), continues to successfully implement the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project worth over Sh18.6 billion. Speaking to journalists in Iringa, MUCE Principal Prof Method Samwel Semiono said the project, implemented by the government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, aims to reform the higher education system so it can directly contribute to the country’s economic transformation. “The five-year project (2021/2022–2025/2026) is funded by the World Bank and focuses on curriculum improvement, infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, inclusive education and gender equality, as well as promoting the use of ICT and digital learning,” explained Prof Semiono. He no...

PAMLOMO-SAUTI YA JAMII

Search This Blog