HEALTH safety is one of the major concerns faced by the people of Nagado in the highlands of Nadi.
In an interview with village headman Peniasi Dakuwaqa, he said 125 flush toilets were destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Evan last month.
Mr Dakuwaqa said villagers had started building pit toilets for short-term use only.
"Of the 189 households in the village, 125 families had their toilets destroyed by the cyclone," he said.
"Villagers have started with the rebuilding but mostly pit toilets have been built to replace the damaged ones. One of the main disadvantage of having pit toilet is that there is a high chance of a communicable disease outbreak."
Mr Dakuwaqa said villagers had been urged to practice personal hygiene. "We have heard of typhoid outbreaks at Koroboya and Navala villages in Ba so villagers have been told to always take precautionary health measures," he said.
"Villagers have also been told to boil all drinking water, cover food from flies and to thoroughly wash their hands after visiting the toilets and before every meal.
"Villagers have also been instructed to make good use of the health centre in the village by having regular checks." Mr Dakuwaqa said parents and guardians had also been asked to take good care of their children.
"The school will re-open for another school year soon and parents should always supervise their kids.
"We don't want any child to be sick during the commencement of the school term and parents have been regularly asked to be alert at all times," said Mr Dakuwaqa.