By Sarah Gwetsani

Area 25B Block Leader committee member Faless Douglas, has called on residents of Kanthepa location to be always on the look – out for people dumping baby diapers anywhere in the area for possible arrests by the by – law .

Douglas said Kantheoa location has transit roads going to Area 25 Health Centre, St Francis (Kanengo) Parish, Kanengo Police Station, and Mgona township, saying it is sad to see heaps of baby diapers along the roads that women and girls of reproductive age are to blame.

She said it is the duty and responsibility of each and everyone in the area to see to it that the surrounding is being kept clean and not to be used as a dumping place for baby diapers.

Speaking during the funeral service in the area, Douglas advised the residents particularly women of reproductive age that diapers can be taken care of by drying and thereafter burning.

Douglas has sounded a strong warning to the residents that whoever will be caught dumping baby diapers anywhere, will be liable to pay a fine of K100,000 as a lesson to other would – be offenders.

She said Kanthepa stream is being used by many people for farming and other agricultural produces, washing and bathing hence it is not good to use it as a dumping place for baby diapers.

The Block Leader reminded mothers that in the past, they used napkins for their babies, they washed it after use, drying and kept at a good place and not dumping it outside their houses.

Douglas said traditionally, napkins were kept inside the houses because there was a belief that some people will use the napkins as charms which in the end can cause baby illnesses and death.

She said today, diapers are being dumped everywhere, mothers do not care of what will happen to their babies tomorrow as they never know that some other people can use the dumped diapers for their own traditional beliefs.

The Block Leader advised women in the area not to be surprised that some of them are bearing children who are mentally disturbed claiming that one possible cause of this is dumping baby diapers anywhere.

Douglas accused some men and boys who are being sent by women to be dumping baby diapers anywhere for money advising them to stop forthwith, warning them that before the one who has paid money to them receive her punishment, they will be the first to be arrested, paraded and dance to their music.