By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, February 14, Mana: Likoma District Council on Friday conducted a clean-up routine exercise which was aimed at raising awareness of the importance of maintaining hygiene in public places hence preventing the spread of diseases in Likoma.

Speaking after the exercise at Mbamba market in Likoma, the Director of Administration and Human Resources for Likoma district council, Moses Jere emphasized the importance of the exercise saying that it is a responsibility of everyone to keep the environment clean.

“We need to ensure that our surroundings are clean, especially here at the market. Customers need hygienic places for them to buy goods from sellers and we all need to be healthy people including our families,” said Jere.

He added that people should ensure that they are using toilets whenever they want to defecate to eradicate diseases such as cholera, especially during the rainy season.

Chairperson for Mbamba Market, Henry Singano asked the council to take into consideration the construction of additional toilets at the market to prevent open defecation which may fuel the spread of diseases.

“Here we only have one toilet. As a result, people help themselves wherever they feel like doing so. If we have more toilets, this will help in hygiene practices since people will be using the toilets as a result, all the surroundings will be clean,” said

He then hailed government through the council for the clean-up initiative saying that it is a good move to curb the spread of diseases as the environment will be always clean.