Lilongwe improves on cholera cases
Cholera cases which are common during the rainy season are a thing of the past among Lilongwe communities due to a sanitation and open defecation free (ODF) programme.
Lilongwe district environmental officer Paul Chunga said this on Monday during an ODF declaration ceremony of 122 villages under Traditional Authority (T/A) Chitekwere in the district.
He said since the onset of this rainy season, only one cholera case which came as a referral from Machinga, has been recorded against 20 cases registered last year.
“The programme is yielding good results and we are grateful to the organisations implementing it,” said Chunga.
World Vision is implementing the programme in T/A Chitekwere and other areas in the district to improve sanitation and hygiene.
World Vision Nkhoma area programme manager Thoko Zanchibwano said 140 villages entered a sanitation competition out of which 122 qualified for the ODF status while 18 failed in some aspects of hygiene.
He said since 2006, the number of ODF free villages has been rising because communities now realise the importance of following good hygienic practices.
He said successful villages receive gifts as a motivation and are monitored.
