Residents of Ntchisi District on Thursday joined duty-bearers in a solidarity march to push for improved water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) services in health centres.
Ntchisi district director of health and sanitation services Alexander Chijuwa said in an interview that some women were dying due to Wash-related challenges.
He said: “We are trying to understand the challenges that pregnant women face in our health services regarding water and hygiene services. Most of our mothers die due to poor hygiene.
“We feel that we can do something for women that die due to Wash challenges. So, the march seeks to send a strong message to the government, non-governmental organisations [NGOs] and partners to do something about the current situation.”
WaterAid programme officer Laston Zungu said he was delighted to see NGOs leading the campaign for safe motherhood and getting responses on the matters raised.
He said: “We cannot talk about safe motherhood without talking about improved water, hygiene and sanitation.
“I am happy that we have had a meaningful conversation where representatives from health facilities brought forward issues to the attention of duty-bearers.”
Zungu appealed to duty-bearers in the district to intensify awareness on Wash services and allocate adequate resources to the sector.
Ntchisi District Council chairperson Maloto Chimkombero described the march as crucial in ensuring improved service delivery, especially for expectant women and children.
He said the council will take steps to ensure that they address the challenges.
“We will lobby our members of Parliament and councillors to tap from the Constituency Development Fund to address the challenges,” said Chimkombero.
The walk follows a national safe motherhood campaign launched two weeks ago under the theme ‘Time to deliver’.
