Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene 2014 Sept - Oct Vol. 9 No.5 | Page 9

NEWS in brief

Around Africa

“So far, the programme has recorded a great achievement
largely in the water sector as many people have been
connected to clean water,” said Mr Lyimo while briefing
journalists on the Annual Engineers Day.

organisations to intervene and resolve the problem, which
has led to a hike in the water prices.”
He explained that a barrel of water has amounted to SDG
20 ($3.50) in the Nierteti camps.

This year’s Day has brought together about 3000 engineers
to discuss their role in the implementation of the BRN
programme. BRN is the government’s blueprint to change
the country from low to middle-income economy, the
water sector being one of its priority areas.
The Registrar of Engineers, Engineer Steven Mlote, said

Malaria spreads in El Fasher locality
The accumulation of water in Abu Shouk camp in
North Darfur has caused the spread of malaria, carried
by mosquitoes, an activist in the camp reported to Radio
Dabanga. He added that the displaced people have lost
their homes owing to the recent heavy rainfall.
The activist appealed to the North Darfur Ministry of
Health and the local authorities to speed up the provision
of medicines, mosquito nets, and to bridge and dry the
water ponds.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan and the World Health
Organization (WHO) conducted water testing in Abu
Shouk camp between 6 and 16 August. In total, 25 water
samples were collected for bacteriological analysis. The
test results revealed that 13 samples were contaminated.
In addition, 20 out 22 samples taken for residual chlorine
testing were found unsafe for human consumption.
Moreover, sanitary inspection showed that there is
stagnant water around the hand pumps, and there is a need
for urgent fencing to prevent contamination.
Zamzam camp in El Fasher locality has also witnessed a
mosquito infestation as the heavy rainfall caused 15 large
water pools, a resident told Radio Dabanga recently.

Tanzania
Three Million Get Clean Water under BRN Initiative
THE water sector has recorded great achievement in
the implementation of the Big Results Now (BRN)
programme to connect about 2.8 million people to the
clean water during the past one year.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the President’s
Delivery Bureau (PDB) overseeing the BRN programme,
Mr Peniel Lyimo, said in Dar es Salaam on Thursday
that before the BRN programme, the country could only
connect about 300,000 people per year.

Nkrumah Hall, University of Dar es Salaam.

this year’s event aimed at discussing the role of engineers
in the implementation of the programme because they
were a vital element in the implementation of the initiative.
“The goal of this year’s event is to familiarise engineers
with the BRN programme to implement it efficiently,”
Eng. Mlote pointed out.
In his remarks, Engineers Registration Board (ERB)
Chairman, Prof Ninatubu Lema, said the shortage of
engineers remained a major challenge to the industry,
reporting that the country has only 13,000 engineers,
which is equivalent to one engineer to 5000 people.
“We are facing a shortage of engineers with only 13,000
engineers. In a developing country, one engineer serves
200 people,” observed the ERB Chairman.
Prof Lema recently said that Tanzania was facing a shortage
of 67,000 engineers thus posing a serious challenge for the
development of the industrial sector.
The country needs 80,000 engineers as per current
requirements. “The shortage of engineers has led to some
challenges when it comes to the implementation of mega
projects,” reported Prof Lema during the event to swear-in
engineers at the College of Engineering and Technology at
the University of Dar es Salaam.

Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • September - October 2014
Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • September - October 2014

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