During the week, Wesnetwork-Water and Environmental Sanitation Network secretariat and the National Sanitation and Hygiene Technical Committee engaged communities in Mangochi, Balaka and Blantyre districts where Evidence Action is implementing the Dispenser for Safe Water project which aims at promoting access to safe drinking water for rural communities.
According to Evidence Action’s Country Director Benson Botha, the project is targeting eight districts of Chiradzulo, Zomba, Blantyre, Mwanza, Neno, Machinga, Mangochi and Balaka and that so far about 9000 dispensers have been installed in various water points in the project areas.
He said: “We are aiming to reach to about 2.7 million people and what we want to achieve is to increase the access to safe water because it is one way of preventing water borne diseases like cholera.”
Botha added that the organisation has so far worked with district councils in response to the cholera pandemic that has hit the country.
Ministry of Health Chief Environmental Officer Holystone Maumsamatha Kafanikhale has hailed the chlorine dispenser project saying it is crucial in the fight against cholera.
Wesnetwork Executive Director Willies Mwandira said the intervention has come at the right time and that it is pleasing to note that the beneficiaries have adopted the innovation and are using the chlorine dispensers without any challenges.
One of the promoters from Tchale Village, T/A Nsamala in Balaka district Greeta Zapsa said so far the area has not reported any cholera case which is a good indication as it clearly shows that people are drinking safe water.