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Member of Parliament Gets Clean Water Flowing in Nsanje District
For years, residents of Nyang’a, Juni, and Kampira villages in Nsanje district had to scramble for water together with animals, writes Moses Thole.
Nsanje, Malawi-For years, residents of Nyang’a, Juni, and Kampira villages in Nsanje district had to scramble for water together with animals, writes Moses Thole.
Women were forced to walk long distances to fetch water, making it difficult for them to concentrate on their small-scale businesses, and causing unrest in some families.
Schoolchildren at Mpisamanja Primary School also struggled with the consequences of inaccessibility to clean water.
But all that is now history, thanks to the Member of Parliament for Nsanje Lalanje Constituency, Gladys Ganda.
Using funds from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Ganda's office planted piped water in the area, providing access to clean and portable water to the communities.
The solar-powered pipes were mounted at Mpisamanja Primary School, and each village has its own kiosk.
The development has brought relief to the residents of the area, who say that they no longer have to walk long distances in search of water, and no longer have to drink untreated water from wells that pose a health risk.
Eniya Lampiao, a resident of Group Nyanga, said that the problems with accessing clean water were what had caused her family to drink untreated water and exposed them to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.
"I am grateful to MP Ganda for installing water pipes in our area," she said.
Annet Byson of Kampira village also expressed gratitude for easy access to clean water.
"Each village should have two or three water points. This helps us avoid quarrels due to congestion. My vote of thanks goes to our MP for using the CDF to install water in this area," said Byson.
However, Senior Group Nyan’ga reminded residents to take care of the pipes and avoid vandalism, saying it could retard development in society.
MP Ganda said that she will continue to look for well-wishers to support the initiative so that more people in the area can benefit from access to clean water.
"We have used 20 million kwacha on the water project. Besides these villages, we have also provided portable water to Kalupsya and Phokera in the same constituency," said the legislator.
Over 2,000 households in the villages of Nyang’a, Juni, and Kampira are now benefiting from piped water, thanks to the MP's intervention.
Access to clean water is a critical issue in many parts of developing countries, putting people's health at risk, hindering economic development, and disproportionately affecting women and children.
Projects such as the one initiated by MP Ganda are crucial in providing sustainable access to safe drinking water, improving sanitation, and promoting good hygiene practices.
In regions where water supply is limited, developing sustainable water sources like boreholes, wells, and rainwater harvesting is essential to ensuring a healthy and productive population.
The provision of clean water is also critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which prioritize access to clean water and sanitation, and building resilient infrastructure in vulnerable areas to foster economic development and sustainable growth.
Governments, non-governmental organizations, donors, and other stakeholders must work together to facilitate the provision of safe water and adequate sanitation facilities in all communities.
This will not only improve health outcomes but also help alleviate poverty and promote inclusive development for all.