The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID) has contributed 17 million pounds (approximately K10.8 billion) for a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) programme in Malawi to be managed by Unicef.
Unicef country representative Mahimbo Mdoe announced this in Lilongwe on Thursday through a media statement.
“The grant will be managed by Unicef Malawi and implemented by four NGOs: Concern Universal, Goal, Dapp and World Vision Malawi. The activities will be conducted in 10 districts…Dowa, Kasungu, Neno, Balaka, Ntcheu, Karonga, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu and Thyolo,” he said.
Over half a million people will be served with safe water, a quarter of a million will have access to toilets, and approximately one million people will live in a cleaner and healthier environment.
The programme aims to reduce deaths in children under the age of five and the deaths are related to diarrhoea and malaria; reduce absenteeism of children, especially girls, from primary school; reduce the time taken to collect water by women and girls and empower communities to manage and maintain their water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
Said Mdoe: “Unsafe water and poor sanitation are a great threat to a child’s survival here in Malawi, where 4 500 children under five still die from diarrhoea diseases every year. This assistance from DfID will go a long way to protecting those lives in some of the poorest and hardest to reach areas in the country.”
Community members and schools will participate fully in programme planning and implementation to ensure sustainability. The programme will also focus on increasing the role of women and girls in training and decision-making, while support to schools will address the specific water and sanitation needs of children (particularly girls) in schools.
District council capacity to deliver Wash services will also be strengthened through the programme.
Mdoe said: “The ‘Malawi Integrated Water Supply, Sanitation, Hygiene Promotion and Capacity Building Programme’ will increase access to safe water and sanitation facilities in vulnerable rural communities and help ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of Wash facilities by community members, in partnership with the Ministry of Water Development and Irrigation, district councils and the private sector.”
Head of DfID Malawi Sarah Sanyahumbi said: “We are conscious that unsafe water and poor hygiene are two of the top concerns of Malawians, and these can lead to preventable death and illness.
“In response, we are delighted to have significantly increased our support to water and sanitation through this programme with Unicef. In addition to the provision of safe water, this support will work with communities to promote good hygiene. There are many simple practices, such as use of a basic toilet and hand washing, which can dramatically reduce illness and increase quality of life.”
