GOVT TIPPED ON WATER SUPPLY & ACCESSIBILITY IN NATIONAL l RESPONSE TO CHOLERA

By Meclina Chirwa 

The Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (WESNET) has called on government to prioritize water supply and accessibility as a central strategy in the national response to Cholera.

In a statement signed by WESNET Executive Director, Willies Mwandira, easy access to water in or near dwellings, markets and health care facilities would also further prevent the further spread of the disease especially in over-populated areas.

According to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, only 89% of the Malawian population has access to clean water and there are geographical variations in access to safe water amongst urban, peri-urban and rural dwellers.

In this regard, WESNET has urged government to provide more resources to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation so that it ably recruits more staff at district level to rehabilitate and maintain non-functional boreholes so that communities are able to access safe and clean water.

Meanwhile the Global Water Partnerships (GWP) says investment in water is still a challenge not only in Malawi but many other African countries.

GWP National Coordinator for Malawi, Deborah Muheka, told Timveni that according to the African Development Bank, Africa needs $64 billion per year to invest in water security.

She said it high time Malawi prioritizes Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) issues to narrow the investment gap.

According to Muheka, investing in WASH has the potential of preventing the further spread of Cholera in the country.