Resumen
Since the 1998 civil war cholera outbreaks and water-borne infections have been a major cause of morbidity and mortality during the rainy season in Guinea Bissau. Our survey aims at: 1.describing the distribution, characteristics and use of water sources and sewage facilities in a central area of the capital city of Bissau; 2. determining the microbiological quality of drinking water during the rainy season. After mapping of the Cuntum 3 study area, water sources’ and latrines’ location, characteristics and use were determined by visual inspection and interviews with householders. Microbiological analyses were performed from water sources for evaluation of total Coliforms, E.coli, Enterococcus faecalis. Twelve water sources (9 wells, 3 taps) and 15 latrines were identified and used by 444 inhabitants. Water sources and latrines were at less than 5 meters distance apart. Wells were self-built, hand-dug, shallow (4-6 meters), unprotected. Taps were located outdoor.
Latrines were self-built, open air, unprotected. None of the houses had a bathroom. Maintenance of wells, taps and latrines is not performed on regular basis and well’s handling habits are not safe. Well and tap water showed heavy faecal contamination with more than 1000 CFU/100 ml. The contamination of drinking water in Bissau due to poor construction, maintenance and improper use ten years after the civil war, demonstrates the need to allocate resources after conflicts in the area of water and sanitation. Both should be included as a priority in post-conflict reconstruction programs in order to reduce cholera outbreaks and diarrhoea related mortality.
Keywords: Drinking water, fecal contamination, rainy-season, post-conflict, Bissau
Résumé
Depuis la guerre civile de 1998, l’épidémie de choléra et les infections d’eau souillée ont été les causes majeures de morbidité et de mortalité durant la saison pluvieuse en Guinée Bissau. Notre but d’étude était dedécrire la distribution, les caractéristiques et l’usagedes sources d eau et les facilites de vidange dans la région centrale de la cité capitale de Bissau et de déterminer les qualités microbiologiques de l’eau a boire durant la saison pluvieuse. Après avoir cartographie la zone d’étude, trois domaines d études, location des sources d’eau et latrines, les caractéristiques et l’utilisation étaient déterminées par des inspections visuelles et interviews avec les chefs de familles. Les analyses microbiologiques étaient réalisées des sources d’eau pour une évaluation du total de coliformes, E. coli, Entérocoque fécale.Douze sources d’eau (9 puits, 3 robinets) et 15 latrines étaient identifiées et utilisées par les in habitants. Les sources d’eau et les latrines étaient à moins de cinq mètres de distance les unes des autres. Les puits étaient construit individuellement, a main lever, petit (4-6 mètres) et non protégés. Les robinets étaient localises a l’extérieur. Les latrines étaient construites individuellement, à l’air libre, non protégées. Aucune des maisons n’avait de salles de bains. La maintenance des puits robinets et latrines n’est pas faite sur des bases régulière et la gestion habituelle des puits n’est pas sécurisée. Les puits et robinets d’eau ont montres une forte contamination fécale avec plus de 1000 CFU/100ml. La contamination de l’eau à boire en Bissau due à la mauvaise construction, la maintenance et l’usage malpropre 10ans après la guerre civile, démontrent le besoin d’allouer les ressources après les conflits dans les domaines et sanitaires. L’ensemble doit être inclus comme priorité du programme de reconstruction post-conflit en vue de réduire l’épidémie du choléra et de la diarrhée conduisant à la mortalité.
Correspondence: Dr. Raffaella Colombatti, Clinic of Pediatric Haematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padova, Italy. Email: rcolombatti@gmail.com
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