The African Development Bank
Group (AfDB) has today announced a loan of US $211-million to help address the
urgent need for improved water and sanitation in the city of Arusha in Tanzania.
The sum represents 90% of the cost of the Tanzanian Government program to
alleviate the threat of major environmental and health issues and improve the
quality of life for Arusha inhabitants.
Arusha city in Tanzania is a
major regional hub. Since 2010, the Arusha Urban Water Supply and Sanitation
Authority service area has almost expanded to cover 208km, yet the existing sanitation
network covers only the Central Business District of the city and serves only 7,6% of
inhabitants. Capacity is severely stretched and the existing sewage
treatment ponds are critically overloaded. Water coverage is also an issue, with less
than 44% of Arusha inhabitants currently served. Consequently, it is estimated that water-borne
diseases in the area account for about 40% of per capita health expenditure.
Accordingly, this strategic AfDB
investment is designed to enable transformative improvement of water and
sanitation services across Arusha city.
Over the program horizon, the improved facilities
will benefit a resident population of more than 600,000 people in Arusha city
and 250,000 additional people, who commute to the city, for business purposes. A
new sewerage treatment pond system will be a major contribution to service
delivery.
In line with
the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy to promote inclusive growth, the program includes targeted
solutions in areas not covered by the sewerage system, in order to respond to
the needs of all groups, including the economically disadvantaged. 100 sanitation blocks for Arusha city schools are
budgeted in the sanitation program.
Improved access to water and sanitation services
will complement other social services and will have significant gender
dimensions. In Tanzania, women spend considerable time and energy on a daily
basis in collecting water and caring for family members suffering from water-related
illnesses. Improved water and sanitation in Arusha will lead
to a reduction sickness and associated health-care costs, and is expected to
give women more time for productive endeavors such as adult education,
empowerment activities and leisure.
Mr. Mohamed El Azizi, Director of the AfDB Water and
Sanitation Department, said “The
AfDB is a key member of the water sector dialogue with the Tanzanian Government
and a long-term contributor to rural water and sanitation programs, with
support from
AfDB’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative. The AfDB Tanzanian
field office will play an important role in the implementation and monitoring
of the works”.
A good step. We need to expand and invest in sewage infrastructure everywhere in the country. We also need to invest in water supply infrastructure to increase provision of clean and safe drinking water throughout the country. With all the freshwater resources available and opportunities for tapping rain water, if we are creative, with the right priorities, we should be able to solve all the water issues in the country.
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