Madam Mutharika’s Trust encourages Nkhotakota

First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has said Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust will work through market and health facilities in the country to improve sanitation and hygiene in public places.

She said this on Saturday at Nkhotakota Primary School ground after participating in a cleaning exercise at Nkhotakota District Hospital and Nkhotakota Market.

The First Lady said it was imperative to improve sanitation and hygiene in health facilities and markets so that they should not be sources of infectious diseases.

“The sanitation and hygiene efforts should also extend to our homes so that diseases such as malaria and cholera should one day be history in the country. Improvement in sanitation and hygiene is also crucial for the country to boost its tourism industry,” she said.

Mutharika said she decided to visit Nkhotakota after she learnt that 32 chiefs, led by group village head (GVH) Phangwa, partnered with Beam Trust to be conducting cleaning exercises at the district hospital and the market twice a week.

Beam Trust chairperson Mayamiko Mwinjiro said it was encouraging to note the efforts done by the chiefs led by GVH Phangwa. But he said he was not impressed with sanitation and hygiene at Nkhotakota district council offices and he requested the council to improve the situation.

Nkhotakota district council chairperson Samson Kaziputa said the chiefs and the council’s health service committee will continue improve sanitation and hygiene at the council offices, health facilities and markets in the dictrict.

Senior chief Malengachanzi was thankful to the First Lady for coming to Nkhotakota to motivate the chiefs to continue working with Beam Trust in improving sanitation and hygiene in public places.

Nkhotakota District Hospital serves a population of over 300 000 people.