Untreated water fuels health risks on Rabi Island, warns medical officer

Residents on Rabi Island must boil their water daily as the island's water supply remains untreated and unsafe to drink.

Rabi Island Health Centre senior medical officer Dr Jone Turaga highlighted the crisis, identifying contaminated water as the primary driver of illness across the community.

"The water is not treated on the island," Dr Turaga said.

"People are still drinking from these sources."

He explained that the untreated water contributes to skin diseases like scabies and respiratory infections that are still common on islanders.

"The root causes of all illnesses which is arising from WASH, poor water hygiene and sanitation, which gives rise to skin diseases, respiratory infections," Dr Turaga said.

These issues fall under WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), which refers to the essential access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities.

Dr Turaga noted that while the health centre advises all residents to boil their water, it is an impractical long-term solution.

"From the hospital, we are advising them to boil water, which is something that is a lot of hassle for the community," he said.

Dr Turaga called for urgent improvements to the island's water infrastructure.

"They really need to consider upgrading their sources of water and also introducing these filters and chemicals, chlorinated water and all of it consistently," he said.

"It comes and goes on the island. It's never consistent."

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