Commercial farmers in Mkushi district have been prodded to seriously consider improving on the hygiene standards within their holdings.
Munshibembe Ward Councillor Francis Chilyanga sated that there was need for commercial farmers to improve on hygiene standards namely by increasing domestic water supply within their holdings.
Mr. Chilyanga said that he felt compelled to issue the appeal to Farmers explaining that persistent water shortages on some farms could put workers at risk of contracting disease such as cholera and dysentery.
He said that owing to this concern, he had requested the District Health Management Team (DHMT) to conduct physical inspection on farms in a bid to ensure that hygiene standard were maintained.
He noted that there was need for both DHMT and farmers to sensitize farm workers on the importance of disease prevention methods such as the use of chlorine for ensuring water sanitation.
He stressed that there was need for commercial farmers to provide employees with the necessary protective wear, saying that such a move would reduce the prevalence of work related accidents.
Mr. Chilyanga also extended an appeal to residents in the Ward to ensue that toilets facilities were built on each residential plot and warned of penalizing those who did not comply with this aspect of public health regulation.
He lashed out at owners of residential plots that did not have toilets and accused them of being “irresponsible”.
Munshibembe Ward recorded high number cholera cases in Mkushi in April this year.
[ ZANIS ]
