Amref, WaterAid bail out Machinga residents

Malawi: Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities is a critical component of an essential health package and achieving universal health coverage in Malawi, writes Owen Nyaka.

Unfortunately, many public Health Care Facilities (HCF) in the country lack adequate WASH facilities and proper maintenance of existing facilities.

Amref has installed water tanks and provided sanitary facilities at the Kawinga and Chikwewo HCFs in Machinga with funding from WaterAid.

Amref Project Officer Charles Chirwa applauds the communities for reducing vandalism, stating that at the Chikwewo facility, for example, the water pump was stolen twice, but thanks to community intervention, they hired a full-time guard who works twenty-four hours a day.

"This guard is being paid by the community as part of a fundraising initiative. A person is employed to maintain the bicycle and collect revenue "Chirwa says

Mercy Masoo, Country Director of WaterAid Malawi, stated that the organisation plans to expand from 35 to 75 health centres in Malawi.

Masoo, on the other hand, urged water sector stakeholders to step up efforts to address water and sanitation challenges and ensure Malawi meets the sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6), which addresses water and sanitation, by 2030.