According to Abu Kargbo of the Directorate of Environmental Health and Sanitation hepatitis is on the increase, hence appealing to sachet water producers to ensure that the status of their workers are checked.
He said that though waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea are gradually becoming a thing of the past, however the prevalence of typhoid and hepatitis on the increase
The water business has made [positive] impact this is as a result of your effort to follow standard even when you are challenged you continue to add value…” that notwithstanding “there is prevalence of other diseases, you hardly get to the hospital and not been diagnosed with typhoid. Furthermore, there is also an increase in the prevalence of hepatitis.”
He explained that the reason for the prevalence of such diseases is “as a result of oral contamination of either the food we eat or the water we drink.” Thus call on producers of oral consumables food water and beverages to be more careful in their production process.
He explained that role of the directorate is to ensure that what food, water and beverages gives to the public is wholesome and it is without defect that would cause a health crisis.
Kargbo noted that the directorate inspects and gives recommendations but which are not adhere to by some of these sachet water companies.
He explained that Hepatitis transfers through body to body contact. Hence, he appealed to owners of sachet water companies to contact the directorate for proper assessment of the status of their workers as this would save their lives and well as others.
Emmanuel Mannah, Director General of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Company (SLEWRC), stated that the Sierra Leone Pure Water Packeters and Bottling Organisation is recognized as a body of professional business men and women specialised in the production, distribution, and sale of clean drinking water to the entire Sierra Leone population.
“By nature of the job they perform, these business processional are at the core of guaranteeing safety in the final mile of the water sector, and we cannot overemphasise the importance of their involvement.
Amadu Jogor Bah, Deputy Executive Director of the SLSB, indicated that the SLEWRC and the bureau have harmonised their operations and are working in unison. He stated that the only way to cleanse the sector is to have regulations that adhere to the appropriate levels or quality. He stated that the SLSB has implemented an inclusive approach in which important stakeholders are consulted anytime standards are revised in order for them to be informed of the changes.
