Many are in sympathy with Mashyuza residents in Rusizi District after the sudden disappearance of the hot springs in their locality. It first started trending on social media and, from the pictures that emerged one can see a small puddle or two where the expansive pool from the hot springs used to be. Apart from locals near and far, the hot springs also pulled tourists from neighbouring countries who sought to cure their ailments by bathing or standing in the healing cascades. Rusizi District is in Western Province and borders with Burundi in the south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west in a triangle that connects the border communities. The natural attraction in Mashyuza must have contributed to the local economy from the tourists, as may be seen at the other hot springs in the country — Gisenyi and Nyamyumba Hot Springs in the vicinity of Lake Kivu in Rubavu District in Northern Province, also Kinigi Hot Springs in Musanze. Not far from Mashyuza is the Bugarama Hot Springs that a local tour-guide website says costs $45 (Rwf43,500) to visit. Perhaps the cost was a little less at the belated spa at Mashyuza, but the loss must be felt. Experts have already been sent to find out what happened, but some evidence point to a recent earthquake or tremors. A government expert explained how the earthquake about a month ago could be one of the likely causes. The earthquake of about 4.4-magnitude in Burundi’s Cibitoke area, which borders Rusizi, could be the culprit. There was yet another one, also in Burundi on Monday this week of about 5.0 magnitude that happened in Rumonge by Lake Tanganyika. Being in the same geological system a tremor in these areas might affect Rwanda. This is what the experts will be determining, among other factors. And yet there exists a possibility the Mashyuza springs might reappear, as noted by the expert. One needs only look at examples around the world. In 2012, for example, the hot springs in Haida Gwaii in the West Coast of Canada disappeared following an earthquake. The locals recalled how, following a similar earthquake in the past, the springs reappeared a couple of years later. Seismologists, scientists who study earthquakes, explain that once the underlying tectonic plates start grinding again, stresses in the fault line are likely to build up in the same locations allowing for conditions to bring back the springs. By 2017 the Haida Gwaii Hot Springs had returned and are now catering to tourists. There is hope, therefore, for Mashyuza. One, however, might wonder whether an ambitious entrepreneur might have seen the business potential in the spa, including some in the country which operates small scale. It is something to wonder about because, globally, the spa economy is estimated at well over $94 billion. The term “spa” is an acronym for salus per aquam, meaning health through water in Latin. And the general context of spa environments can support a holistic approach to health promotion, also through the exposure to natural open-spaces, the presence of water itself. This includes access to physical activities, physiotherapies, and health education opportunities. The only this is that the water of natural spas should be of satisfactory microbiological quality and must be adequately managed to control the exposure of bathers and personnel to infectious agents. As for therapy, scientists note that even if additional evidence-based data are needed, several studies have shown the therapeutic role of mineral elements and other chemical compounds present in thermal waters. The treatments with mineral thermal water or mud have proved effective in pain relief and function restoration, impacting also on quality of life. Several parameters of clinical interest and other key issues have been reported to play a role in several rheumatologic diseases, for instance, knee and hand osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis, compared to non-mineral similar treatments.
