Minister of Health Atupele Muluzi has hailed communities of traditional authorities (T/As) Chowe, Namavi and Chiunda in Mangochi District for embracing good sanitary practices, observing that this has helped the Lakeshore district to be resilient against the risk of water-borne diseases.
He made the remarks on Saturday at Chimbende Full Primary School in T/A Chowe when he presented certificates to the three T/As for attaining open defaecation free (ODF) status.
“Any effort to promote sanitation by the communities should be commended,” he said in an interview after presenting the certificates.
Muluzi said he was worried that every year, government spends millions on cholera victims, stressing that such money could be channeled to development programmes that can uplift rural people.
Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) president Levison Changole and Hygiene Village Project executive director Roy Khonyogwa, whose organisations supported the communities the three areas on issues of health, pledged to work with the remaining nine T/As in the district to attain ODF status.
Speaking on behalf of the other chiefs, T/A Chowe hailed the close collaborations between communities and the organisations, saying it has helped the area achieve the status. n
