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Invited to the Nature-Educ program produced by the online media outlet NATURELCD and broadcast on Radio Moto Butembo-Beni, university lecturer Umbo Salama extensively discussed the challenges related to access to water and sanitation in the city of Butembo. The program is part of an environmental education initiative extended across the North and South Kivu provinces, with support from journalists specializing in water-related issues.
Under the theme “Water as a Driving Force for Sustainable Development,” the program aims to strengthen public awareness on environmental protection, sustainable management of natural resources, and the impacts of climate change. Through this platform, speakers promote community engagement and collective responsibility.
During his intervention, Umbo Salama, a lecturer at the Université de l’Assomption au Congo, emphasized the central role of environmental education in transforming behavior. According to him, this education should begin at an early age within families, continue in schools, and extend throughout society by involving students, parents, teachers, authorities, and citizens. He particularly highlighted the importance of establishing sanitation brigades in schools to instill responsible waste management practices.
“When everyone gets involved in sanitation, from students to authorities, it leads to a real change in mindset,” he stated, adding that collective discipline could significantly reduce harmful practices such as indiscriminate waste disposal.
The expert also underscored the potential of recycling as both an environmental and economic solution. He cited local initiatives where plastic waste is transformed into paving stones, creating employment opportunities while improving urban cleanliness. In his view, this approach aligns with a circular economy model in which waste becomes a valuable resource.
Addressing corporate social responsibility, Umbo Salama called on local companies to go beyond tax obligations related to sanitation. He urged them to adopt effective waste management and recycling strategies—not only to protect the environment but also to strengthen relationships with surrounding communities. Poor waste management, he warned, can lead to social tensions and health risks.
The health sector was not left out. The speaker expressed concern over the poor handling of biomedical waste in some health facilities, where it is sometimes discarded in nature or near homes and rivers. He advocated for stronger treatment mechanisms, including the use of incinerators and the enforcement of strict hospital waste management policies.
Furthermore, Chief Assistant Umbo Salama highlighted the close link between environmental issues and people’s living conditions. In Butembo, many residents still struggle to access clean water, often traveling long distances or sacrificing essential activities to obtain it. According to him, this situation demonstrates the need to consider environmental issues as a matter of security in their own right.
“Security is not limited to armed conflict. It also includes environmental, food, and health security,” he stressed, noting that poor sanitation contributes to the spread of diseases such as malaria and waterborne infections.
In conclusion, the lecturer called for collective awareness and coordinated action to improve access to water and promote a healthy environment. He emphasized that environmental protection is a shared responsibility, essential for ensuring sustainable development and the well-being of communities.
