The Parliamentary Committee on Health has asked Bankers Association of Malawi (BAM) to consider providing toilets for customers as they undertake banking transactions.
Committee chairperson Mathews Ngwale said this yesterday when they met BAM representatives.
He said the issue of lack of sanitation facilities in banks has been a concern for years.
Ngwale said some customers travel long distances to access the banks and spend hours in banking halls; hence, the needs for restrooms.
“It is a public health problem because when a customer wants to use the toilet, they are forced to go and relieve themselves on the roadside and this becomes a health risk to the public,” he said.
In her response, BAM chief executive officer Lyness Nkungula described the matter as important and said the association will discuss it and provide feedback.
“The matter is not closed here. When we go back, we will further discuss it. It is a serious matter,” she said.
However, Nkungula said banks help customers whenever they want to use the toilet, adding that in shopping malls where some banks operate, customers also have access to the public toilets.
She also called on customers to utilise digital platforms to avoid congesting the banks.
Previously, banks have cited security as one of the reasons for not providing customer toilets.
