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Dedza communities expect cholera-free 2016/17 season

 

People of Traditional Authority (T/A) Chauma in Dedza say they are anticipating zero cases of waterborne diseases following the formation of health clubs for improved hygiene and nutrition in the area.

Welthungerhilfe, a German organisation committed to improving Malawians’ livelihoods in the Central Region, is facilitating the formation of the clubs under participatory hygiene and nutrition education (PHNE) approach.

One of PHNE beneficiaries putting her  plates on the rack
One of PHNE beneficiaries putting her
plates on the rack

 

Chauma PHNE community facilitators chairperson Nason Chiphukusi said in an interview on Sunday they have stepped up efforts in sensitising communities to the need of developing innovative approaches and technologies that can lead to radical and sustainable improvements in domestic and personal hygiene as they approach the rainy season.

He said: “Every family now has a pit latrine, a rack for drying plates and thatch-fence, among others. This is to ensure total prevention of disease transmission as we approach rainy season.

“We hope that cases of waterborne diseases will be prevented this coming rainy season due to this intervention.”

Chauma health surveillance assistant  William Magombo said villages in the area used to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes and waterborne diseases because of inadequate or outright absence of personal and domestic sanitation and hygiene facilities.

“But things have now improved,” he said.

The approach is being implemented with funding from Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

A similar project is being implemented in T/As Maganga, Ndindi and Pemba in Salima. n

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