National News

Childcare centres get boreholes, toilets

 Pump Aid has constructed toilets and drilled boreholes at Mchonkhwe and Mbedza community-based childcare centres (CBCCs) in Mchinji District to enhance sanitation and hygiene in the facilities.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) constructed two toilets and handed over two boreholes to each CBCC.

Speaking during the handover on Monday, the organisation’s programmes manager Chikondi Kaomba said they wanted to make the learning environment conducive for children.

He said early childhood development is crucial, but most of the centres have poor infrastructure and sanitary facilities.

“The organisation is also promoting the consumption of nutritious food among children in the facilities,” said Kaomba.

Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare director of child affairs Mcnight Kalanda commended Pump Aid for donating the facilities.

“Pump Aid, through its Wash and nutrition project, is helping us implement the national early childhood development [ECD] policy which calls for an integrated approach towards the provision of the services,” he said.

Kalanda said government is constructing ECD centres through the Investing in Early years Project supported by the World Bank and other organisations such as World Vision, Action Aid and Unicef.

“We are making strides in improving ECD facilities to ensure that children learn in good facilities,” he said.

Mbedza CBCC chairperson Nyadani Natani said the facilities have increased the enrolment of children at the facility.

“Children can access clean water, thereby enhancing their personal hygiene,” he said.

The organisation is implementing a two-year water, sanitation and hygiene and nutrition as project in the district

Related Articles

Back to top button