Boreholes to improve sanitation in Phalombe
Concern Universal has drilled and rehabilitated 100 boreholes in Phalombe, which are expected to improve lives of over 25 000 people through provision of potable water.
The organisation is drilling and rehabilitating boreholes under a Water Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) project which, among other things, focuses on assisting villages to access potable water.
Speaking on Friday during a tour of the project’s outcomes, Phalombe district commissioner (DC) Harry Phiri hailed Plan Malawi for improving rural people’s lives through provision of clean and safe water.
He said: “Safe water is a basic need and providing it to the communities is one of the most successful approaches to achieve hygiene and sanitation because where there is no safe water it is hard for households to practise hygiene and good sanitation.”
Phiri said drilling and rehabilitation of the boreholes would further reduce pressure on water resources in the district.
According to Phalombe District Water Development office, the normal borehole-human ratio in Malawi is at 1:250, but over 250 people in the district, rely on one borehole, causing it to overwork and breakdown easily.
Commenting on access to clean safe water, Patrick Nyundo of Mzinganyama Village in Traditional Authority Jenala in the district said over 700 people of his village and at least 100 others from a neighbouring village relied on two boreholes drilled by Concern Universal.
He hopes that at the end of the borehole drilling and rehabilitation exercise, the ratio will have been reduced to reasonable figures in many villages.
Meanwhile, out of the 100 boreholes earmarked for Phalombe District, 52 old boreholes have been rehabilitated and nine new ones drilled.n
