Cleanest informal markets announced
International Handwashing Day commemorated
The capital's mayor said it is high time that awareness is raised about the critical role good health and sustainable hygiene practices plays in our daily lives.
International Handwashing Day was commemorated on Sunday under the theme "Clean hands are within reach".This day also falls in the health and hygiene month which the Windhoek municipality celebrated last Thursday with an opportunity to celebrate the cleanest informal community markets in the capital.
Speaking at the event, Windhoek mayor Joseph Uapingene said it was high time to raise awareness about the critical role that good health and sustainable hygiene practices play in our daily lives. "Our health is our most valuable asset and preserving it should be our top priority."
Uapingene said washing hands not only cleans hands, it also removes harmful bacteria and fights viruses. "The health of the individual must be recognised as well as the joint responsibility to promote hygiene in our communities."
He said the national demographic survey of 2016 showed that 46% of the population still defecate in public. "The unhygienic environment we sometimes see in our markets, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, can undermine our traders' sales, and also pose a serious health risk to traders and their customers."
A competition was launched in 2018 to encourage informal traders to keep their sales space clean at all times and to make good hygiene a daily practice, he said.
Winners
The Soweto market was named the cleanest large informal market this year, and the Limbandungila market in the northern industrial area as the cleanest small market. The Stokes market near the Old Power Station complex was named the market that improved the most.
Kasukoo Uamunika, Rabbi Kayoo and Hileni Hamutenya run the cleanest individual stalls at the Soweto market.
Other winners who were honoured on Thursday include Tusneld Uusiku, Helvi Likondja, Livongani Mebby, Otilie Mutota, Pius Daniel and Albertina Amwaama.
Helena Junias, Marthin Nakathingo Junias, Elise Nangolo, Marakia Shikomba Marakia, Toini Diinineni Kanime, Emgardt Tjizo, Reginalda Negumbo, Katrina Mbadi and Albertina Sheuyange were also declared winners.
The Windhoek municipality has established 19 informal markets in and around the capital and according to the city's spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya, each of these markets has toilet facilities and water taps.
In terms of toilet facilities for the capital's growing informal settlements, he admits that resources are limited while the need is ever increasing.
Growing settlements
Data from 2011 showed that 32% of the capital's population lives in settlements, while this increased to 43% in 2016 and was estimated to be 44% by 2020.
The City of Windhoek (CoW) is currently implementing a five-year plan until June 2025, where constituencies including Tobias Hainyeko, Moses Garoeb, Samora Machel, Khomasdal, Windhoek Rural, Katutura East and the informal markets will be put under the microscope.
The aim is to reduce the number of households that have to share one toilet to 20, and to place these toilets within 100 meters of the homes in question. One water tap must be erected within 200 meters of every 40 houses, according to the plan.
The crowding of houses in informal settlements is a major concern, which is exacerbated by vandalism of the toilets and water taps. By August, half of all municipal toilets and taps were damaged and in need of repair, according to information shared by Amutenya.
These communities do not take ownership of the infrastructure, and may even damage it to gain access to free water, she added.
The City of Windhoek needs around N$50 million to be able to carry out its short-term plan, which the municipality cannot afford on its own, she said. – [email protected]