Police have urged opinion leaders and residents of Gasabo District to promote security and hygiene in a bid to improve public welfare and development.

The call follows a six-month Security and Hygiene campaign which was launched in July with an aim of bringing various players on board to improve sanitation within the city and enhance public safety.

The Gasabo event held last Friday brought together over 2000 opinion leaders, including members of Community Policing committees (CPCs), community health workers, representatives of faith-based organisations, members of the private sector and head teachers from the district-based schools.

In his address to the opinion leaders, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) Inspector of Police (IP), Joseph Nzabonimpa informed them that, without hygiene, security cannot be preserved since people wouldn’t be healthy.

"A community that lacks hygiene is prone to diseases and the end result is that people are not at peace which creates insecurities. As opinion leaders, you should take the lead in ensuring that your neighborhoods are clean at all times,” he said.

The campaign will see players in different sectors awarded for their role in supporting and promoting hygiene and security in the city.

"When it comes to improving the quality of life, security and hygiene are inseparable, that’s why we must stick to them at all times,” said Nzabonimpa. 

During the same meeting, the head of the sanitation department in Gasabo District, Vivine Tuyizere, also urged the opinion leaders to put more effort in encouraging people to improve hygiene in their homes.

"Sanitation starts with an individual in their homes and the community they live in. If we use this approach, there is no doubt we will achieve a lot,” she said.

She also reminded them that security and hygiene are the source of development and that if the rate at which the City of Kigali is developing is to be maintained then there is need to bring on board all stakeholders in enhancing security and hygiene.

During the event, the opinion leaders joined hand with the residents of Remera Sector to clean up trenches and painted walls by the road side.

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