EU partners Unicef to improve water, sanitation
European Union (EU) and Unicef on Wednesday signed a contribution agreement for a three-year programme worth 23.6 million euros (K11.8 billion) to improve rural water, sanitation and hygiene in 15 priority districts in Malawi.
The signing ceremony in Lilongwe marked the start of the programme, which will contribute to national efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, in particular the goal to improve access to safe water and improved sanitation.
The EU is contributing 17.6 million euros with the remainder of funds, six million euros, coming from Unicef.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, EU Ambassador and head of the EU delegation to Malawi Alexander Baum said the programme plans to provide safe drinking water and latrines to schools, a more hygienic and safe place for children that, especially girls will find it easier to attend school.
“Through this programme, the EU and Unicef aim at helping Malawi to achieve MDG 7, on sustainable water supply and sanitation, by 2015 and to make this achievement a long-lasting success for Malawi in the years to come,” said Baum.
Unicef country representative Mahimbo Mdoe said the proper sanitation, that the programme will provide, will help make communities not suffer from bouts of sickness and sometimes death.
“Diarrhoea diseases account for 18 percent of all under-five deaths in Malawi coming from the 1.1 million cases of diarrhoea that occur in young children every year. The most common causes of diarrhoea are unsafe water and poor sanitation,” said Mdoe.
