Kampala — The rate at which buildings are going up in Kampala is alarming. The constructors sometimes ignore the recommended building plan and look for quicker ways to fix glaring loopholes.

As a result, many buildings do not meet the required standards in critical areas like toilet facilities, ventilation, lighting, standard spacing and drainage. This is a point of concern, considering the health and hygiene implications on the occupants.

John Lule, the Kampala City Council (kcc) chief inspector, says: "Most arcade owners present to us a good plan, but they instead set up buildings that do not meet the required standards."

He says poor drainage or lack of a proper system is common. Most of these buildings discharge sewage, blocking systems, especially when rain water containing rubbish flows into the drainage.

As a result, flooded sewage stagnates, increasing chances of diseases like typhoid, diarrhoea and cholera. This also provides a breeding ground for vectors like mosquitoes which cause malaria.

Some of these buildings have septic tanks that are not connected to the National Water and Sewage Corporation lines. "This is dangerous to people, specifically in places which have a high water table," Lule says.

Usually the feacal matter in the septic tank ends up mixing with rain water. This fuels the spread of diarrhoea and waterborne diseases such as dysentry.

Most of these building also have poor ventilation.

Ruth Mubeezi, a public health consultant, says buildings are supposed to have free flow of air. "Some rooms only have doors but no windows.

The rooms are stuffy, making breathing difficult. This can fuel the spread of airborne diseases like tuberculosis, flu and cough," she says.

The toilet facilities in these arcades are also lacking. The recommended ratio is one toilet per 25 people, but most of these facilities are over used, not properly cleaned and closed at night yet business goes on.

Most buildings do not have separate rest rooms for men and women. Mubeezi says sharing toilets increases chances of spreading infections such as urinary tract infections, especially among women because they have to squat over a toilet or sit," she explains.

Due to improper lighting, the multiplication of germs and vectors like mosquitoes is facilitated.

Due to congestion in these malls, where merchandise is stored in corridors and vendors sell goods in corridors, outbreaks like flu are hard to control, and tend to spread faster.

Occupants of these arcades also dump rubbish in the corridors and inside their shops. In some malls, dustbins fill up and are not emptied regularly.

This not only causes a foul smell, but also facilitates the multiplication of bacteria and other disease-causing organisms.

"Some warehouses in basements of these arcades are turned into restaurants, or classrooms yet they are not supposed to be inhabited by people. This is dangerous because it can cause suffocation since there is no proper ventilation," Lule says.

Recommendations

Mubeezi recommends that toilets for women and men be separated. Facilities for the disposal of sanitary pads in the women's section should also be provided.

She says the recommended ratio of one toilet per 25 people should be adhered to in order to minimise health risks associated with overcrowding.

Mubeezi advises that baby changing rooms be designated so that mothers can change their babies' soiled diapers in a clean and healthy environment.

Restaurants and kitchen areas should be located at least 30 metres from the toilets, according to the stipulated public health standards.

Mubeezi says rubbish disposal should be handled carefully to prevent the multiplication of vectors and harmful micro-organisms.

"Dustbins should be emptied regularly and organic (food) waste separated from inorganic to improve hygiene. Organic waste should be taken away everyday to prevent decomposition that leads to a foul smell and attracts houseflies," she recomends.

If one intends to rent a building, he or she should first ensure that the rooms are designed to suit their business and meet the recommended health standards.

This specifically applies to people in the food or school business because the clientele is high. They would require proper ventilation and enough toilets to cope with the traffic.

Required standards

Lule says the Public Health Act 2000, emphasises key facilities that every building owner has to include when constructing.

An environmental and health impact assessment survey must be submitted as part of the requirements for the approval and granting of a construction license from the city council.

All buildings must have a plan designed by professional architects that must be submitted to KCC and followed during construction.

Septic tanks are not supposed to be constructed in areas with a high water table as the feacal matter ends up contaminating water that people use.

Rooms that are set up for specific purposes should be used for those purposes and not converted into shops or restaurants because this contravenes the set standards and laws.

Services of competent contractors and consultants should be utilised during construction to ensure that health and hygiene standards are adhered to.

Lule says anyone who breaches the Public Health Act and other related specifics when setting up a building is liable to prosecution.