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Chimswera Village Residents Find Relief from Cholera with Safe Water from Water Kiosk
Over 30 households in Chimswera Village resort to the nearby dirty Lunyina River for domestic water needs, including drinking.
Malawi: Chrissy Ngulube of Chimswera Village in Rumphi District counts herself lucky for surviving the deadly cholera disease in the month of November, last year, writes Fletcher Simwaka.
"If I didn't seek treatment in good time, I would be part of the 705 lives lost to the disease so far across the country, " says Ngulube.
Ngulube credits Chikulamayembe Women Forum, a Rumphi-based ActionAid Malawi partner, for her successful treatment and recovery.
The organization has been running sensitization campaigns and building community capacity in various impact areas, including Chimswera Village, since the outbreak of cholera in March.
Despite her successful recovery, Ngulube remains wary of another possible cholera attack due to the lack of clean and safe water in her area.
Over 30 households in Chimswera Village resort to the nearby dirty Lunyina River for domestic water needs, including drinking.
According to the Malawi Ministry of Health, poor food hygiene, a lack of safe water, and low latrine coverage and usage are major factors associated with the cholera outbreak in the communities.
Martin Mlenga, a Senior Health Surveillance Assistant at Bolero Health Centre, says recent tests show that only piped water is safe for use in Rumphi District.
"The only remedy is treating the water with chlorine," Mlenga adds. In response to the danger posed by the Lunyina River, the Chimswera women, with support from the Chikulamayembe Women Forum, launched a campaign to demand clean and safe water from the Rumphi District Council.
The Council worked with the Northern Region Water Board to install a water kiosk in the area in mid-November.
The water kiosk has brought relief to Ngulube and over 80 households in Chimswera Village, who no longer have to drink unsafe water from the contaminated Lunyina River.
"Clean and safe water is no longer an issue, and since we started using the water from the kiosk installed by the Water Board, there is not a single cholera case reported from our area," Ngulube says, visibly relieved.
Grace Phiri, leader of the newly elected Chimswera Waters Users Committee, adds that households in the area are united in contributing money to pay for the water bill at the kiosk every month.
"We have lost three lives to cholera in our area, so we don't want to lose more lives. We will ensure that we take care of this water kiosk. We contribute about K10,000 (US$9) every month for the water bill here, and we find the amount affordable, considering that there are over 30 households benefiting from the kiosk. We no longer want to be associated with cholera cases here," Phiri says.