The United States Government has donated K40 million worth of hand-washing stations to the Ministry of Education to protect learners and teachers from Covid-19.
The handover took place on Wednesday at Biwi Primary School in Lilongwe. The donation included 4 440 hand washing stations with water dispensers, basins and a one-month supply of granulated chlorine disinfectant.
About 550 schools from 22 districts with enrolment higher than 2 800 will benefit from the consignment.
Receiving the donation, Minister of Education Agnes NyaLonje thanked the US Government, saying the items will help schools in fighting the deadly Covid-19 from spreading further in Malawi.
She said: “For the schools to be Covid-19 safe hubs for both learners and teachers, we need to provide them with adequate hand washing and sanitation facilities. But government alone cannot manage; hence, the need for partners to come in and support the ministry and the schools.”
The minister called on other well-wishers to emulate the gesture.
In an interview, US Ambassador Robert Scott said the project aims to support the ministry in implementing measures to protect learners, teachers and administrators as schools resume.
He said: “USAid maintains its strong and long-standing relationship with the Ministry of Education at all levels of education, including a strong focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning in Chichewa and English through the National Reading Programme.”
The districts to benefit include Lilongwe, Mchinji, Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Dedza, Dowa, Kasungu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mzuzu, Ntcheu, Phalombe, Salima, Thyolo and Zomba.
