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Commune de Ngmaba: A catastrophe

 

                        Image credit: Tonton Laval - YouTube


In the heart of Kinshasa, commune de Ngamba stands as a stark testament to government neglect. Once a place of promise, it has become a community plagued by poverty, health crises, and a lack of basic infrastructure. The absence of essential services like electricity, clean water, and proper waste management has turned Ngamba into a symbol of despair. For the thousands who call it home, every day is a fight for survival.

 

A community on the brink

Ngamba’s narrow pathway are choked with uncollected waste, creating an environment ripe for disease. Pools of stagnant water dot the landscape, becoming breeding grounds for mosquitos and waterborne illnesses. Families live in makeshift shelters surrounded by debris, cut from basic sanitation. Years of governmental mismanagement have left residents without the resources needed to lead dignified lives. The sight of children playing near piles of garbage and women struggling to make ends meet paints a heart-breaking picture of abandonment. 


 


image credit: Tonton Laval (the streets are choked with garbage, making it difficult to navigate).

Health hazards from waste management

The lack of proper waste disposal system has had devastating effects on Ngamba’s residents. Garbage clogs drainage systems, leading to flooding during the rainy season, which spreads cholera and dysentery. Open waste piles attract rodents and pests, while burning garbage releases toxic fumes that pollute the air and harm respiratory health. These unsanitary conditions have created a health crisis that disproportionately affects children and the elderly.


The voices of Ngamba

“We have no choice but to live like this,’ says Rebecca Tsumba, a mother of three, as she points to a pile of garbage outside her home. ‘Our children are getting sick, but no one cares about us.’” Her words echo the frustration and despair felt across the community. Cholera outbreak have become alarmingly frequent, and parents are forced to choose between paying school fees or seeking medical care for their sick children. For many the dream of education has become a distant hope.

 

Despite the numerous complaints from residents, local authorities remain silent. The government has left Ngamba with despair and hopelessness. Their failure to address the pressing needs to the Ngamba community highlights a persistent disregard for marginalised regions. Despite, repeated promises of improved infrastructure, access to healthcare, and educational resources, residents of Ngamba continue to face extreme hardships. Roads remain impassable, schools are underfunded, and healthcare facilities lack basic equipment and medicine. This neglect has stifled economic growth and left the community vulnerable to preventable diseases and poverty.

 

The tragedy of Ngamba is a glaring reminder of the cost of neglect. The government’s inaction has turned this community into a symbol of despair, leaving its people to fend for themselves amidst appalling conditions. But this is not just a call for help, it is a demand for accountability. The people of Ngamba deserve more than to be buried in filth and forgotten. They deserve clean water, proper sanitation, and access to education and healthcare. Above all, they deserve the dignity and hope that come with being seen and valued. It is time for the government to take responsibility and ensure that Ngamba’s tomorrow is brighter than its today


 

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