Limpho Sello
MOKHOTLONG vendors say the lack of ablution facilities in public spaces is posing a threat to efforts to combat Covid-19.
The vendors said this during the donation of six water tanks by the Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) in the district. The project was funded by Standard Lesotho Bank and the Petroleum Fund to the tune of M217 000.
The water tanks were handed over to the Mokhotlong Urban Council on Wednesday at Mapholaneng Taxi Rank as part of the LRCS’ Covid-19 response initiatives.
Mohlalefi Kokoropo, a Mokhotlong vendor told the Sunday Express on the sidelines of the handover, that while they were grateful for the water tanks, the lack of hygienic toilets would still pose a challenge to the Covid-19 fight.
“We are happy to have received the water tanks but without hygienic toilets, we are worried that the fight against Covid-19 could be lost,” Mr Kokoropo said.
“The unavailability of proper toilets is a huge challenge. There is only one public toilet which is very dirty and has been neglected by the urban council so much that most people prefer relieving themselves in the open.
“We also do not have a sewage line, so this means that all the dirty water we use at the rank is poured all over the place increasing unhygienic conditions.”
For his part, LRCS president Silas Mosuhli said the donation was one of the several initiatives that they were working on to fight the spread of Covid-19. He said the tanks in Mokhotlong were just the beginning as they would soon travel to other districts.
“We will be donating 30 tanks around the country and all this is being done with support from Standard Lesotho Bank and the Petroleum Fund.
“All the tippy taps will be installed in crowed places including taxi ranks because that is where the largest number of people pass through. We encourage people to observe cleanliness to reduce the spread of Covid-19.”
He also encouraged the public to guard the facilities jealously as they have faith that they can save lives.
Standard Lesotho Bank head of marketing and public relations, Manyathela Kheleli, said they had set aside M1.5 million for the Covid-19 fight and had already spent M1.2 million on different initiatives.