Community self-surveillance capacity on pesticide impact in lake Eyasi basin, Karatu district, Tanzania

Purpose: In rural communities in Tanzania, poor pesticide management and hazardous practices are common due to a lack of capacity, economic empowerment, and untrained and uninformed farmers. Through a community-based surveillance (CBS) to monitor pesticides health impacts on farmers and the community in general, farmers in Lake Eyasi Basin in Northeastern Tanzania were sensitized in using CBS strategies to make decisions that reduce the risks of pesticide use on themselves and their environment. 

Method: 
Lake Eyasi basin was selected because of extensive farming with intensive use of pesticides conducted all year round. Tools developed by Helen Murphy for Asia-Pacific were adopted and used by farmers after short orientation. A structured form was filled in by farmers after each spray session and results were compiled and discussed monthly. 

Results: 
The study showed that the capacity to identify pesticide hazards was low in the Lake Eyasi Basin. The pesticide label was not communicating hazards to the community adequately. There was mixing of same type of insecticide or several different insecticides in one spray. The frequency of self-reported pesticide poisoning signs and symptoms was high. Moderate and severe signs and symptoms were reported. 

Conclusion: 
There was an increased burden of illness due to indiscriminate pesticide use among farmers. Pesticides mixtures are hazardous and uneconomical. The reporting of moderate and severe signs and symptoms is an indication of serious pesticide exposures. A more firm action on pesticide hazards is required to compliment traditional approaches of pesticide legislation and safe use campaigns.