
Audio By Carbonatix
Up to 90% of Tanzania's biggest city is not connected to the sewage system, a joint report released on World Toilet Day has found.
It says Dar es Salaam's four million residents largely rely on the services of a band of illegal workers known as "frogmen" to deal with human waste.This group of clandestine night workers, who are predominantly men, earned their nickname from the tactics they use removing human waste from latrines across the city.Their hazardous work is the focus of the joint report by the International Labour Organisation, the World Bank and WaterAid."Frogmen" dive into pit latrines with buckets and a shovel - then dig out faecal sludge by hand.They use no equipment or protection which exposes them to a wide variety of health hazards and diseases, and sometimes even death. There are no available figures to give a picture of just how prevalent health problems arising from their work is because it is illegal.Organisations such as WaterAid are working with frogmen to help them build legal businesses and carry out their essential work more safely.Meanwhile, the government points to the risk of latrine collapse and disease which arises from poor construction in the city’s slums. But for many residents, the frogmen offer an affordable alternative to the legal waste removal trucks.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Armed men reportedly storm Adjen Kotoku Onion Market amid tensions
42 minutes -
Tecco Mensah writes: Why football fans must look beyond statistics
1 hour -
Police recover stolen Honda CR-V in Kumasi within 48 hours
2 hours -
Apetorku Gbodzi 2026 Festival opens in Dagbamete with development focus
2 hours -
President Mahama arrives in Lyon to co-chair One Health Summit
2 hours -
Beverly View Plus Hotel draws crowds amid coastal Easter rush in Volta
2 hours -
Maiden Zongo Festival held in Wa amid calls to tackle drug abuse among the youth
3 hours -
FDA warns of fake HIV test kits on Ghanaian market
3 hours -
Africa urged to build resilient health systems as donor support tightens
3 hours -
Easter gesture: Ablakwa settles medical bills for 85 North Tongu constituents
5 hours -
Africa must harness its population strength—Titus-Glover
5 hours -
Visa-free access doesn’t mean unlimited stay – Lom Ahlijah
5 hours -
From Golgotha to Kwahu: The Easter Migration of the Faithful and the Faithless
7 hours -
How the Ghanaian onion traders’ standoff with Nigeria unfolded and threatened local supply
7 hours -
No compensation for demolished structures on 24-Hour Economy market lands — Gov’t to structure owners
7 hours