TWO DAYS EMERGENCY MEETING HELD IN MALAWI TO ENDING CHOLERA

 

A Two days emergency meeting of Southern Africa Development Community Health, Environment, Water and Sanitation Ministers looking at ways of ending Cholera has commenced in Malawi today.

 In a call for action ahead of the emergency meeting, WaterAid’s Southern Africa Regional Office is calling on governments to urgently focus on addressing the root causes of Cholera which is spread due to dirty water and poor sanitation and hygiene.  

 WaterAid’s Regional Director, Southern Africa, Robert Kampala is concerned that the disease has affected women and girls in SADC countries. 

 Mr. Kampala said while the world celebrated the 2023 women’s day yesterday, several countries in the SADC region are experiencing the most serious outbreak of cholera in many years. 

 He said it is sad to note that women and girls are responsible for the larger share of the domestic work not only to prevent but to also respond to cholera outbreaks; fetching and treating water, preparing food and caring for the sick. 

 And WaterAid Zambia acting Country Director Leah Mtolo has called for increased investment in WASH activities in Zambia.

 Ms. Mtolo said poor water, sanitation and hygiene are the main causes of infections like cholera and diarrhea and a leading cause of death for children under the age of five according UNICEF reports. 

Meanwhile, Water Aid Zambia says the country will benefit from the 15 billion US Dollars water and Sanitation project to be implemented by Water Aid Global from 2023 to 2028.

 Water Aid Zambia Country Policy Analyst Specialist Chama Mundia says the project will be mobilized under the 5 years strategic plan which seeks to ensure access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

 Ms. Mundia says at least 400 million people in countries where Water Aid operates Zambia inclusive stand to benefit from the project.