At least 1000 people in the district of Naqarawai, Namosi, have been drinking from “unfiltered” water sources for decades.
They claim that their cries for help to have their water catchment fixed continues to land on deaf ears.
Speaking to this newspaper, district representative Iliesa Rokodrika claimed he had highlighted the issue in district and provincial council meetings.
Mr Rokodrika claimed two people from the district died from typhoid in 2018.
During rainy weather, he said, villagers had no choice but would fetch drinking water from the river which was used daily by animals as a water source.
He said their request was to have the water catchment relocated far from livestock farms and have it filtered.
In response to the concerns raised by the villagers, Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate said they would look into the issue.
No other response has been forthcoming since then.
During a Fiji Council of Social Services budget consultation in Tailevu earlier this month, Citizens’ Constitutional Forum co-ordinator Seva Tuicau said the villagers in the district had been drinking from unfiltered water sources for decades.
“The main water source in this area is not safe because it’s not filtered,” he said.
“So this also means that drinking water from this area is not safe.
“The other problem is domesticated animals roam around freely in the villages and the chances of them contaminating water sources were high.”
Questions sent to the Minister for Health and Medical Services Ifereimi Waqainabete in June remain unanswered.
