"Kuelekeza si kufuma." - "Good intentions alone serve nothing if not followed by tangible results."
The Problem Statement
Poor environmental sanitation is a predominant issue in today’s developing world. Tanzania is one of the countless countries suffering from minimal awareness regarding the significance of environmental cleanliness. One of the more crucial and impacting consequences of this lack of knowledge involves the unsafe and inappropriate disposal of solid waste, which has created considerable health problems and very unpleasant living conditions in countless countries. The waste generated in Tanzania as well as in other countries that do not have proper disposal means create unsanitary living conditions and detrimental health concerns, such as diarrhea and malnutrition, in addition to a range of sicknesses and diseases.
Internationally, these problems triggered by improper sanitation efforts can be traced back to about 68% of all deaths for children under the age of five. Today, it is estimated that there about 2.6 billion people living in the developing world who have yet to gain access to proper sanitation means. Without it, their health and living conditions are crippled, hence affecting nearly every aspect of life.
In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, merely 1800 of the 2600 tons of waste generated are collected. Garbage is piled up in open masses, posing health threats to children who play with and live near them. What is not collected is usually dumped on the near street. The uncontrolled garbage, roadsides plagued with waste streams blocked with trash, inappropriately disposed toxic wastes constitute a serious health hazard to residential areas. These polluting wastes offer breeding sites for insect-vectors, pests, snakes, and vermin that augment the likelihood of disease transmission. These are the wastes that children play with, that animals and villagers search for food in, which causes many to consume infected food. The effect of this further promotes the spread of diseases such as malaria and diarrhea. Each year, of the 16 million that are infected, 100,000 die from malaria alone in Tanzania, primarily the fault of improper waste management. Worldwide, 8% of children die of malaria each year, and 17% from diarrhea related infections, 88% of which is due to contaminated water sources. Even more alarming is that the sole number of children dying from diarrhea worldwide, coming to approximately 5000 deaths each day.
Studies conducted demonstrate that many diseases rampant in Tanzania such as dysentery, diarrhea, scabies, skin diseases, eye problems, typhoid, cholera and intestinal parasites are primarily the cause of inappropriate waste disposal. In 2004, rural areas in Tanzania only had 49% access to improved drinking water sourced. With over 50% of the people susceptible to infections carried by water viruses, the results could be crippling for the health of Tanzania.
In addition to the rotting smell in the streets and the dangers of parasites, the garbage piled in the streets also makes the environment more susceptible to air born infections as well as infections in the soil and water. The improperly discharged waste often ends up contaminating the water source in rural villages and even some urban areas. The result further contributes to questionable welfare of those who drink it. In 2004, 62% of the population had access to improved water sources in total. The for the rural population of Tanzania, only 49% are able to get clean water, meaning the other 51% is susceptible to disease and other perilous side effects. Yet another issue with the contaminated water is that it is also used to grow crops in many rural villages, which results in loss or improper growth of crops. This being the 50$ of Tanzania’s GDP crippling of crops means crippling of the entire economy.
On a more global perspective, 70% of the industrial waste in developing countries is not properly disposed of. It creates similar living conditions, health concerns, and economic stress on the local economies. In some places, the improper waste disposal also negates a lot of tourism, which brings great revenue to many countries. For example, in 1999, tourism accounted for 16% of Tanzania’s GDP, a healthy portion to say the least. The reason for this is one of the main concerns with improper waste management, the high risk of infection ad disease.
Overall, the implementation of proper waste management systems is critically essential to the growth of a community and even a nation. Improper waste management can affect a community in every aspect of life, including economic, social, and cultural. The unsanitary living conditions endured in various parts of Tanzania and all over the world can be prevented with the implementation of proper ways to dispose of waste in both rural and urban communities.
Good health is indispensable to any community that aspires to grow. It means cleaner environment, a stronger working force, more tourism to help the economy, and longer life expectancy. The proper disposal of wastes would immeasurably aid a community economically, socially, and culturally. A community with good health and long life expectancy also gains a sense of pride and confidence in itself that contributes the strength of their cherished culture.
Proper disposal of waste in Tanzania and countries all around the world is essential to the growth of its community. Improper waste disposal results in poor living conditions for children and adults. The indisposed of garbage ends up in piles on the street which produce breeding grounds for insects and vermin that could possibly be carrying fatal diseases. In addition, it heightens the risk of infections getting into the soil, weakening the earth where citizens grow their crops. That, in combination with contaminated water, stunts the growth of crops that many rely on as a source of living. The result is the weakening or bruising of the local economy. Contaminated water also becomes dangerous for children and adults to drink, as it carries diseases and infections that can cause malaria or diarrhea. These infections along with others also present in the air kill many Tanzanians and people world wide each year. Weak health in communities affects every aspect of life, including the society, the economy, and the culture. For these compelling reasons, proper disposal of industrial waste in both urban and rural areas is essential to the growth of a community, a society, and a nation, and must be achieved.