Lupachi achieves ODF status
Nine village heads in hard-to-reach area of Lupachi, T/A Kafuzira in Nkhotakota have received certificates for achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
Health Surveillance Assistant for the area Lawrence Kaulimbo said the community approached Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm) in 2011 to assist them on water and sanitation following frequent water-borne diseases due to lack of safe water.
“We had only two functioning boreholes serving 10,500 population which also had only 179 pit latrines but without covers and hand washing facilities.
“Currently, we have 19 boreholes and 1,786 out of 1,896 households in this area have toilets with covers and hand washing facilities. All four schools in this area also have ecosan toilets,” said Kaulimbo.
Wesm Dwangwa branch manager Ockens Chipeta said they decided to concentrate much on the nine village heads who are all under group headman Katumbi to draw lessons to input into T/A level strategy.
“We’re excited with the response and we have noted that it will be possible to declare the whole T/A Kafuzira ODF by November this year,” said Chipeta.
He said they have managed to achieve the status because they worked with local leaders, health surveillance assistants and district coordination team on water, sanitation and hygiene.
“We have trained extension workers, artisans and area mechanics on various water and sanitation aspects for the sustenance of the ODF status in the area,” he said.
T/A Kafuzira said she was glad that the area had achieved the status describing it as a sign that the area is geared to deal with water borne diseases.
“Any household without a toilet was fined one goat. We are hopeful that the whole of my area will achieve the status in November this year because we have intensified sensitization on the remaining part,” she said.
Currently, only T/A Mwadzama has achieved ODF status in Nkhotakota.—Mana
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