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Malawi observes Water Day with sanitation plea

Malawi on Tuesday joined the global community in observing the World Water Day with a call for water suppliers to ensure that their products are free of contamination in a bid to tackle diseases.

The main event to mark the day was held in Lilongwe where Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia commissioned the Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) Chikungu Solar-powered Water Pumping Station.

Mia and her deputy John Bande interact after unveiling the station’s plaque as World Bank country manager Hugh Ridell looks on

The station, located in Area 36, was constructed as part of the World Bank-supported multi-billion kwacha Lilongwe Water and Sanitation Project being implemented by LWB and Lilongwe City Council.

Mia said in line with this year’s World Water Day theme of Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible, Malawi has the responsibility to ensure that the underground water referred to is free of contamination.

She said this can be achieved through improved sanitation services.

“My advice, therefore, is that as we celebrate our new water plant, let us also remember to safely manage liquid and solid waste so that our water sources are not polluted,” Mia said.

The minister also pledged that her ministry will ensure improvement of sanitation services in the country.

She said: “Globally, diseases associated with poor sanitation and unsafe water account for about 10 percent of the global burden of disease. My ministry is working on improving sanitation services, not only in Lilongwe City, but across the country.”

Meanwhile, Water Services Association of Malawi (Wasama) president Robert Hanjahanja, who is also Blantyre Water Board chief executive, said the theme for this year’s commemoration should inspire the local water sector to strategise on how best to make use of groundwater.

“We have been focusing on surface water for the longest time possible. It is high time we started talking about groundwater, water that is not seen. That’s the real resource and that is where high quality water is,” he said.

The World Water Day is commemorated on March 22 annually and was designated by the United Nations to celebrate water and raise awareness on the two billion people living without access to safe water.

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