Plan in sanitation competition in Mzuzu

Plan International Malawi has engaged primary schools in Mzuzu to increase knowledge and awareness among learners to reduce, reuse and recycle waste as a proper waste management strategy.

Through its Peri-Urban Sanitation and Hygiene (Push) Project, the institution organised a K3.5 million competition for nine primary schools to motivate them to keep their school environment clean.

Speaking at the awards presentation ceremony on Monday, Plan programme area manager Esther Chirwa said the initiative is an attempt to reduce the risks of ill health that come due to careless garbage disposal which, she said, is common among learners.

“It’s an ongoing competition we will be conducting until we see that schools are practising hygiene and sanitation and proper waste management,” she said.

Chirwa further said Plan expects the learners to replicate the knowledge learnt from the competition in their homes.

Mzuzu inspector of schools Penjani Gausi said sanitation is a challenge in most primary schools due to limited availability of facilities in the face of the growing numbers of learners.

She said the competition has assisted the schools to prioritise sanitation as teachers and learners are in the forefront to ensure that their premises are clean.

The schools that participated included Ching’ambo, Kawuwa, Area 1B, Mchengautuba 1 and 2, St Augustine, Viyere, Chibanja and Chiputula.

All the schools were given learning materials for participating, but Chiputula, who was the overall winner, was also given a trophy. n