By Nelson Manneh
KMC in partnership with The Gambia EU cooperation on Thursday 20th, April 2017 held a one day sensitization program on waste management within the municipally.
Speaking on the occasion, the program analyst of NAOSE, Mr. Mutarr Jammeh, said that waste management is a global issue with over 3.5 Billion people around the world without any formal waste collection service. According to him the impacts of these are manifold, with over 40% of waste dumped in uncontrolled open dumps and a further 40% of waste burnt in open fields, leading to significant public health risks particularly associated with the burning of plastics. “The Gambia is no exception with her growing population, growing urbanization and the increasing consumer lifestyles increasing the volume and changing the nature of the waste produced. This is particularly acute in the KMC, BCC, and BAC, the local government areas with the greatest increase in population and urbanization in the country”, he explained.
Mr. Jammeh added that during the raining season, a large amount of the waste drains into small water bodies and finally into the coastal estuary waters resulting to the pollution of marine resources and their habitats and the ecosystem. “These poorly managed wastes provide a threat to human health and therefore interventions are necessary to change people’s attitudes and behaviors on waste management,” he indicated.
On his part, Mr. Momodou Jaiteh, Deputy Mayor of the KM said that waste management remains the challenge within his municipality that everybody’s contribution is needed in order to put an end to this menace. “All stakeholders assembled here are expected to put all the policies into practice. We need your contributions since we cannot do it alone,” he noted. The Deputy Mayor of KMC said that as a council they will continue to engage all their development partners in order to ensure that the waste within the council is properly managed. He called on other sectors to also play their part since their contribution towards this important endeavor cannot be overemphasised.
Madam Fatou Nyang a participant on her part indicated that waste management is a paramount issue that needs the participation of everybody. “With this sensitization program I am sure that we will be able to influence the people out there to make sure that they know the importance of a clean environment,” she explains.
