By Sizwe Dlamini
In Eswatini, approximately 425 single-use diapers are disposed of every minute, contributing significantly to the pollution that seeps into drinking water and food sources.
This alarming statistic was highlighted by Ndumiso Magagula from the Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA).
Magagula was speaking during the Consultative Workshop on the Control and Management of Single-Use Diapers Meeting at the UN House in Mbabane. He emphasized the urgent need to address the waste management challenges facing the kingdom as fecal matter from used diapers was contaminating the kingdom.
“Eswatini’s inadequate waste management infrastructure has resulted in improper disposal of used diapers, which often contain fecal matter. This contamination is making its way into local water systems, posing a serious health risk to communities,” he stated.
“Eswatini is facing a pollution crisis, initially we had the ongoing struggle against single-use plastics, which has now expanded to include the issue of single-use diapers. With three-quarters of the population living in rural and semi-urban areas lacking formal waste collection services, used diapers are frequently discarded in unregulated locations. This leads to environmental degradation as the diapers end up in rivers, contaminating water sources and endangering aquatic life. In some tragic cases, livestock such as cattle have ingested these discarded diapers, resulting in death and financial loss for farmers who are then unable to sell the affected meat,” he said.
Magagula added that compounding the issue is that used diapers harbor matter, which can lead to the proliferation of harmful germs such as E. coli.
Mgagaula pointed out that a recent cholera outbreak was linked to this bacterium, highlighting the direct connection between improper diaper disposal and public health crises.
“The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The sooner we learn to dispose of diapers effectively, the sooner we can ensure that our drinking water and food supply are safe because now there is contamination,” Magagula urged.