In this regard, we must applaud the media for becoming part of this campaign.
So far, several media houses have taken up our call. Citizen TV, GBS TV, FAMILY TV, The Star Newspaper, Citizen Weekly, Radio Waumini, Radio Umoja, Kiss FM among others have offered us ample airtime and coverage as we articulate what needs to be done.We are happy that Family TV is running this in their weekly program, All In The Family on Fridays. We are happy that Citizen TV are running the series, Scars of Dandora.
We ask other media houses to take up the issue of the killer in our society. Below you will find excerpts from Concern Worldwide Report on The Dandora Dump site released last month, it is shocking!
Poor Waste Management is killing our people and the most disconcerting things is that those tasked and mandated to ensure something is done about it are not bothered. We must now bring to the fore the national catastrophe that is poor waste management.
We have a myriad of institutions, if they all put heads together to save Kenyans from this danger, we would make some progress.
Below are some observations from the report;
So far, several media houses have taken up our call. Citizen TV, GBS TV, FAMILY TV, The Star Newspaper, Citizen Weekly, Radio Waumini, Radio Umoja, Kiss FM among others have offered us ample airtime and coverage as we articulate what needs to be done.We are happy that Family TV is running this in their weekly program, All In The Family on Fridays. We are happy that Citizen TV are running the series, Scars of Dandora.
We ask other media houses to take up the issue of the killer in our society. Below you will find excerpts from Concern Worldwide Report on The Dandora Dump site released last month, it is shocking!
Poor Waste Management is killing our people and the most disconcerting things is that those tasked and mandated to ensure something is done about it are not bothered. We must now bring to the fore the national catastrophe that is poor waste management.
We have a myriad of institutions, if they all put heads together to save Kenyans from this danger, we would make some progress.
Below are some observations from the report;
While the poor are responsible for a small fraction of waste generated in the city, they bare the greatest burden of effects..................
Evidence
from these neighborhoods demonstrates that contamination from the
dumpsite has adversely affected human health, particularly through
respiratory diseases, endocrine complications and cancer. At least half
the children in surrounding neighborhoods have heavy metal
concentrations in their blood that exceed the minimum level set by the
World Health Organization.......................
The
dumpsite exists in contravention of several provisions of the
Constitution of Kenya, and a raft of Laws and Court Judgments.........
Given
the gravity and extent of human rights violation, decommissioning of
the dumpsite should be a matter of National Interest.............
To
address this tragedy and injustice, the county government should
immediately deploy modern technology to isolate the toxic waste from
contact with people and the environment. Identification of a site for
construction of a sanitary landfill is critical to a sustainable
solution.However, for real change to happen, residents of the Nairobi
must take responsibility for their waste, a key step is to demand urgent
delivery of a safe and comprehensive waste management system, with a
functional sanitary landfill.Concern.
...................of
the children and youth at the dumpsite have respiratory tract
infections, coughs and asthma.More than half of children around the
dumpsite have blood lead level above 10 micrograms per deciliter of
blood, indicating exposure to high levels of lead(UNEP2007). The
hematological systems of these children are also reported as suppressed,
with 12.5% having hemoglobin levels below the normal
ranges........................
People
absorb toxins like PCBs,Dioxins and Furans by inhalation, ingestion and
absorption through the skin. These elements cause digestive disruption,
low IQ scores and cancer. Anecdotal evidence from the community
suggests a high prevalence of health complications emanating from the
dumpsite. Anaemia, nervous system dysfunction, frailty,hypertension,
kidney problems, decreased fertility, frequent miscarriages, low birth
weight and premature deliveries.................
Despite this, several studies have been conducted about Dandora, TCKC
demands for action and not any more studies.We are now considering
legal action on behalf of residents of Dandora and Korogocho for
compensation if nothing is done to guarantee them cleaner and safer
environments as envisaged in Chapter 4 Article 42 of the Constitution of
Kenya.
We
will also demand that individual public servants bear responsibility
for dereliction of duty and negligence leading to diseases and deaths.
Otieno Sungu.
TCKC.
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