The residents of the South Sudanese capital Juba have expressed concern over the sewage disposal by service providers.
The residents see the poor waste management and disposal as a big threat to their lives, especially those living near where the waste is disposed on a daily basis.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, a resident of New Site, Joseph Laku, noted that the sewage treatment plant in the area was causing diseases, which mostly affected children and the elderly.
He urged the Transitional Government of National Unity to immediately relocate the sewage treatment plant from the residential area.
Another Juba resident, Lual James, said the national government should ensure the proper disposal of sewage and solid waste to avoid the outbreak of diseases.
He also suggested that the sewage disposal plant be relocated far from the residential areas.
Benjamin Lotok, another resident, said the Ministry of Health and Environment should take the lead in regulating the disposal and management of sewage.
“It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, inside of which there is a department of environment and sanitation that is responsible for such things,” he said.
“I want the Health ministry to listen to our voices because this place is no longer conducive for both the children and adults,” he said.
Nhial Tit, an environmentalist working with the United Nations, called for a buffer zone between the sewage treatment plant and the residential areas, including water points, to safeguard the health of the residents.
Efforts to reach the Ministry of Health for a comment were unsuccessful.