Rusizi: Waterborne Diseases Surge in Bugarama Sector Due to River Water Usage

Residents of Bugarama Sector in Rusizi District are plagued by waterborne diseases caused by drinking water fetched from rivers.

These residents explain that they started facing water shortages since the onset of the dry season, following the closure of their community water taps by the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC).

As a result, those who can afford it buy two jerrycans of water for 200 Rwandan Francs, while those who cannot afford it resort to fetching water from various rivers, as stated by a resident named Imananiyibizi Daniel.

He says, “Drinking water from the Rubyiro River causes skin rashes, turning the skin white due to the parasites in it. At the health center, a man died from severe diarrhea caused by the contaminated water he had been drinking.”

Imananiyibizi explains that the water they mostly use comes from rivers like Cyagara, Rubyiro, and Ruhwa, which are the main sources of the diarrheal diseases affecting them.

The Islamic Health Center in Bugarama is receiving a large number of patients with diarrhea.

Bakundukize Abraham, a nurse at the Islamic Health Center in Bugarama, states that they now receive more than five patients daily suffering from severe diarrhea.

He says, “We are receiving various patients from different parts of Bugarama Sector who are suffering from diarrhea. Some arrive in very critical condition, while others are treated and sent home. We suspect that the contaminated water they use is the cause of these problems.”

The District Mayor, Harerimana Frederic, says they have plans to build an adequate water treatment plant, but in the meantime, they will continue to advocate for WASAC to reopen the community taps.

He states, “We are aware of the insufficient water supply in Bugarama Sector, but we have measures in place to address this issue. We are currently conducting a feasibility study to build a water treatment plant using water from the Ruhwa River.”