As the government of Malawi joined the international community in commemorating the world toilet day, there has been a call for intensified sensitization on the importance of having toilets and sanitation facilities to curb waterborne diseases.
Speaking in Salima, on Thursday, during this year’s World Toilet Day, Director of Administration in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Hedrian Mpinganjira encouraged Malawians to embrace the use of toilets to improve hygiene and maintain good health.
Mpinganjira acknowledged that the country is lacking behind in as far as having a toilet for every household is concerned especially in rural areas.
“We still have a mileage to cover because not many people especially in the rural areas appreciate the usage of toilets and not so many people know that there are also cheap types or models of toilets that they can construct in the village,” he said.
Executive Director for Water Sanitation Network, Willies Mwandira concurred with Mpinganjira by revealing that out of twelve traditional authorities in Salima only four have toilets in every household.
“It is worrisome to note that some households do not have toilets, I am calling for local leaders and the corporate world to work hand in hand in order to achieve the desired results where every household will have a toilet,” he said.
He added: “In Salima at least 3,000 fishermen migrate to Mbenje island in the month of March to November and they stay there without toilets, which contaminates fresh waters of lake Malawi and become a source of water pollution.”
On this point, he said the Lake is going to provide water in Lilongwe, Salima and other parts of Dowa through the Salima- Lilongwe water project hence the problem needs to be dealt with speed.
World toilet day was established in 2013 by the United Nations and the day is observed on 19th November; this year the day is being commemorated under the theme “toilet- a place of peace”.
