Nkhotakota launches Wash plan
Nkhotakota District Council has developed an investment plan for water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) that, if implemented, will benefit 400 000 people.
The plan will implement water supply, sanitation, hygiene promotion and institutional development and support projects.
Ideally, the plan was supposed to be launched in 2014 and phase out in 2019, but due to unavailability of funds, the council failed to implement it
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, director of planning and development Michael Chimbalanga described the document as a “shopping list” saying it will guide investors in the water and sanitation sectors.
He said a number of non-State actors have already expressed interest in investing in the Wash projects.
“As you are aware, most communities are struggling to have access to safe drinking water. This plan will help investors wanting to help us in the water and sanitation [sector] as it will act as a shopping list,” said Chimbalanga.
He said the council has projected that by 2019, dysentery will be reduced to five percent, up from 17 percent.
Meanwhile, Plan Malawi has shown interest to support the council in implementing the blueprint for the remaining one and half years.
Plan Malawi head of programmes responsible for Wash projects, Thoko Kaitane said despite the delay in the implementation, the organisation is already carrying out some of the activities outlined in the document.
“Of course, we are launching this plan late, I am optimistic that we will achieve something at the end of the plan,” he said. n
