Dowa areas stop open defaecation
People of traditional authorities (T/As) Kayembe and Chakhaza in Dowa District have stopped defaecating in the bush, prompting authorities to declare their areas open defaecation free (ODF).
Speaking during a ceremony at which the areas were declared ODF at Mdika Primary School ground in T/A Kayembe on Tuesday, Concern Universal (CU) country director Heather Campbell said the gesture seeks to encourage honoured leaders and inspire others to follow suit.
as other officials look on
She said: “We are honouring these traditional leaders because we have seen household sanitation progress in their areas and we want others to follow their example.”
Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume, who presided over the ceremony, commended the two leaders for motivating their subjects to construct their toilets.
He said: “These chiefs have shown strong leadership muscle because they have accepted to adopt change in their communities and this should serve as a motivation to other leaders to adopt this change in their areas.”
T/A Kayembe thanked CU for introducing the project, saying it has addressed sanitation challenges as her area has reported no cholera this rainy season.
CU is working with 1 500 villages and nine schools across 11 T/As in Dowa and Kasungu districts. n
