132 villages attain ODF status in Mzimba 

Communities in 132 villages in Traditional Authority (T/A) Jalavikuba in Mzimba District have all the reason to smile as their area has attained an open-defaecation free (ODF) status.

The area becomes the third to attain the status in the district after Mpherembe and Mabilalawo.

Speaking on Saturday in the area during the celebration of the achievement, World Vision Malawi director of operations Charles Chimombo, whose organisation is implementing a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) project in the district, commended the communities for working hard to attain the status within one year.

“We don’t see such hardworking spirit in many areas we are working in the country. The communities here have worked hard to attain the ODF status within one year, which shows they are on the right track,” he said.

T/A Jalavikuba attributed the success to a good working relationship between communities and World Vision Malawi.

Deputy Minister of Health Enoch Phale said government adopted the Community Led Total Sanitation Policy in 2008 to promote sanitation and hygiene practices in communities.

He said: “Primarily, its objective is to reduce sanitation-related diseases. Maintaining sanitation and hygiene is central to increasing quality of life and years of healthy life.

“Globally, 25 percent of all deaths and 52 percent of total disease burden can be attributed to sanitation-related factors.”

Meanwhile, government says it remains committed to improving sanitation and hygiene to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 which seeks to promote access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030.

So far, only Balaka, Nkhotakota, Dowa and Ntchisi districts have achieved ODF status in the country.